BREAKING NEWS: New Manchester United coach Thomas Tuchel has asked the board to bring his finest player from Chelsea to Old Trafford.
Chelsea has reportedly offered Ben Chilwell to Manchester United in an effort to further reduce their pay expenditure.
Chilwell, an England defender, joined Chelsea from Leicester City in 2020, where he appeared in over 100 first-team games despite being plagued by injuries for four years. The 27-year-old received a contract extension around the end of the 2022-23 season, and his current term runs until the summer of 2027.
Since signing that contract, however, two changes in management have pushed him down the pecking order. Current manager Enzo Maresca has been brutally honest with the left-back, who played little in pre-season and has been informed he will struggle for minutes without a trade.
A move to Premier League rivals United is one option being considered, however it is far from clear. Erik ten Hag’s side is now missing Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia due to injuries, which might explain Chelsea’s attitude.
According to talkSPORT, United has been offered the chance to sign Chilwell, and Chelsea would not stand in the way of the transfer. He was not included in Maresca’s squad for Sunday’s match against Manchester City, with Marc Cucurella starting at left back.
“With Chilly, it’s quite clear,” Maresca stated before the Premier League start. “I love the way he practices and the way he is, but he battles with us to find his optimum position.
“When you train every day and don’t get minutes, it’s not healthy for them or me because I have to make decisions. Some players prefer to leave and go someplace to earn minutes. The transfer window is open, so we’ll see what happens.
Chilwell is one of many senior players left out of Maresca’s Europa Conference League play-off first-leg match against Servette on Thursday. Raheem Sterling has also been left out, with the former Manchester City player losing his squad number to summer signing Pedro Neto on Wednesday.
Sterling, like Chilwell, was left off the matchday squad on Sunday. “I’m not saying Raheem isn’t a terrific player, but I like other types of wingers. This is the explanation,” the manager explained.
