One fringe player at Chelsea could be about to receive a lifeline, one that he needs to take if he wants to remain at the club.
Chelsea were quite ruthless during the summer, forcing the likes of Raheem Sterling and Trevoh Chalobah out of Stamford Bridge.
Both players were removed from the senior squad before eventually being loaned out to Arsenal and Crystal Palace respectively.
Chelsea could sell Sterling to Arsenal next year, while the Blues also look prepared to sell another one of their signings from the summer of 2022 if he cannot convince them this season.
- READ MORE: Enzo Maresca should now look to bring £20m Chelsea player back into the first team picture
Chelsea set to give Carney Chukwuemeka an opportunity before considering sale
Like Sterling, Carney Chukwuemeka arrived at Chelsea two years ago in a £20m deal. However, the midfielder has found himself on the periphery, partly because of injury.
According to journalist Ben Jacobs, though, the club have not given up on him yet and will give the 20-year-old the chance to prove himself before they contemplate a sale.
Speaking to GiveMeSport about Chukwuemeka’s situation, Jacobs said: “Chelsea don’t look at Chukwuemeka as somebody that is a big outlay on the wage bill, nor was he signed for a particularly large fee. It was a big fee, given his age and his profile at the time, but it’s under £20million in all.
“So Chelsea want to give the player the opportunity to maybe change their mind or move higher in the pecking order, and that may come through a loan to get him more minutes, or if something can’t be facilitated, they’ll be open for a sale in 2025.”
Chelsea fans are keen to see Chukwuemeka play in the Conference League after Cole Palmer was left out of the squad for the group stage of the competition.
Carney Chukwuemeka should get opportunity in Conference League
With Enzo Maresca clearly ready to rest his best players in the Conference League, not even registering Palmer for it, Chukwuemeka should get minutes in Europe this season.
The opportunities the former Aston Villa man gets, he has to take them. If not, then it looks like Chelsea will consider offloading him.
A loan move in January also seems possible, though, and if Chukwuemeka can shine at another club, perhaps that could be another route into Maresca’s thinking.
With the Italian having a lot of midfield and attacking midfield options, however, the England youth international faces a tough task getting into this Chelsea team.
Chukwuemeka was linked to AC Milan during the summer transfer window, so that could be one potential destination for the Chelsea youngster in 2025 if he does depart west London.
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