Enzo Maresca opens door to January exits for Ben Chilwell and Carney Chukwuemeka

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has opened the door for Ben Chilwell and Carney Chukwuemeka to leave the club in January.

Neither player has featured in the Premier League this season and their absence from Maresca’s second-string selections in the Conference League and Carabao Cup has long pointed towards a Stamford Bridge exit.

England international Chilwell, who started for his country in friendlies against Brazil and Belgium in March before missing out on Euro 2024, was told in August he was not in the head coach’s plans but a comeback looked possible when the 27-year-old played the second half of September’s cup win over Barrow.

That return has not materialised, while 21-year-old Chukwuemeka – a £20million signing from Aston Villa in January 2023 – has been limited to substitute appearances in the Conference League, though he was not in the squad for Thursday’s 5-1 rout of Shamrock Rovers.

“There are players that unfortunately didn’t play a lot with us in all the competitions, like Chilwell, like Carney,” said Maresca ahead of Sunday’s trip to Everton.

“Probably they’re the first that will want to leave because they work every day because they want to play. If they don’t play probably they are thinking to leave.

“Each player has a different situation so we’ll see if anyone knocks the door and says I want to leave. We’ll try to find a solution.”

Maresca has had the luxury of a run of fixtures against limited opposition in Europe, during which he has given significant game time to players who have struggled to get into his Premier League selections.

They finished top of the Conference League table ensuring direct passage to the last 16, meaning a hiatus from European duty until March.

A number of senior internationals have relied on those games for minutes, most notably Christopher Nkunku and Joao Felix, though players such as 18-year-old striker Marc Guiu – who is top scorer in the Conference League after his hat-trick on Thursday – have also earned valuable experience in the competition.

“I’m not worried about the next three months, if the players are happy or not,” said Maresca. “We have many games, if they do the right things, if they work properly for sure they all are going to have a chance to play.

“Next week we have three games (against Everton, Fulham and Ipswich), so we continue to play many games. Then in January the FA Cup will start.

“Game by game we’re going to try to choose the best XI, or the ones we think are the right ones for that game.”

Reece James, who has not featured since November’s draw with Arsenal, was expected to make a partial return to first-team training on Friday as he continues his recover from a hamstring injury.

“It doesn’t mean he’s going to be with us on Sunday or next Sunday,” said Maresca. “The plan is part of the session he’ll be with the team then from there to try to build the right conditions for him.”