Chelsea Football Club is reportedly devising a plan to offload defender Ben Chilwell, who is currently not part of coach Enzo Maresca’s plans. Despite his talent, finding a buyer for the player has proven challenging due to his hefty wages at Stamford Bridge.
Chilwell spent the second half of last season on loan at Crystal Palace. However, despite his performance there, the Eagles have shown no interest in signing him on a permanent deal. This lack of interest from other clubs has left Chelsea with limited options for offloading their high-earning player. In contrast, Chelsea found a solution for another one of their outcasts - Joao Felix is set to join Al-Nassr which will give the club one less thing to worry about.
With no apparent suitors in sight, journalist Simon Phillips claimed that Chelsea might consider terminating Chilwell's contract if they cannot find a buyer. However, this would not be an inexpensive operation as he still has two years remaining on his £200k-a-week deal making him one of Chelsea’s highest-paid players. In May 2021 it was reported that Brentford showed interest in signing Chilwell but did not make any formal offer. Since then rumours have linked him with another Premier League club.
Interest from Burnley
Following their return to English football’s top flight league, Burnley FC reportedly enquired about signing Chilwell this summer. If these talks materialise into something concrete it could provide an exit route for the England international from Stamford Bridge.
However if Burnley's interest does not lead anywhere serious then it seems likely that Chelsea may terminate the player’s contract altogether - an unprecedented move by Club World Cup winners but perhaps necessary given current circumstances.
Possible new arrivals
While Chilwell's departure seems imminent, Chelsea is reportedly eyeing Jorrel Hato as a potential new addition to their squad. The club is currently targeting Hato as they look for cover for Marc Cucurella.
The future of Ben Chilwell at Chelsea remains uncertain. Whether he will find a new home at another club or have his contract terminated by Chelsea remains to be seen. Regardless, it's clear that the Blues are actively working on reshaping their squad ahead of the upcoming season.
