According to Prominent Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano Chelsea Manager Enzo Maresca has opted to offload a key £100k-per-week Chelsea player in addition to Ben Chilwell during the January transfer window as both players are not in the plans he has for the club.

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has chosen to sell a £100,000-per-week player along with left-back Ben Chilwell, as both are “firmly” excluded from the Italian’s plans and could leave in the January transfer window.

Chilwell is the most prominent player currently linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge, a speculation that has been ongoing since the summer.

Maresca had previously left Chilwell out of the squad for a while but brought him back for their EFL Cup victory over Barrow last month, giving him valuable playing time as the club seeks to attract potential buyers during the mid-season.

“I think so. Hopefully, we can give him some minutes tomorrow,” Maresca said regarding Chilwell’s return to the first team on September 24.

Chelsea’s upcoming Premier League fixtures are as follows:

– **Liverpool (away)** – October 20
– **Newcastle (home)** – October 27
– **Man United (away)** – November 3
– **Arsenal (home)** – November 10
– **Leicester City (home)** – November 23

“The plan for him was to leave. While he’s here, he’s part of the squad, he’s training. He will be in the squad tomorrow, and hopefully, we can give him some minutes.”

Chilwell played 45 minutes in Chelsea’s 5-0 victory against Barrow, but this did little to influence Maresca’s views on the 27-year-old’s future with the team.

Chilwell has been classified as excess to Maresca’s needs ahead of January, with many reports suggesting that the defender’s future lies far from west London.

It’s rumored that Chilwell was even offered to Manchester United during the summer transfer window, and he was eager to make the move to Old Trafford. However, Erik ten Hag’s team ultimately decided against it, despite their need for a new left-back at the time.

The former captain, who earns £200,000 per week, has seen a significant decline in his status, having spent most of last season recovering from hamstring and knee injuries. Mauricio Pochettino previously referred to Chilwell as one of the best left-backs in the world, but Maresca clearly does not share that opinion.

In addition to Chilwell, midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka, who earns £100,000 per week, is also reportedly facing a potential sale in January, according to CaughtOffside.

Maresca has reportedly opted to sell Chukwuemeka, with both the England Under-21 international and Chilwell “firmly” excluded from his plans. They are considered the “most likely” players to leave the club during the mid-season transfer window.

AC Milan and several clubs in Saudi Arabia are showing significant interest in signing the 20-year-old, indicating that Chukwuemeka has potential suitors for the winter window. In particular, the Rossoneri are seeking budget-friendly additions to strengthen their midfield, and it’s believed that Chelsea’s outcast may move to the San Siro on loan.

Interestingly, former Chelsea star Marcel Desailly has expressed his admiration for Chukwuemeka.

“I like Carney Chukwuemeka because he’s like an artist stepping onto the stage,” Desailly said (via Chelsea News). “He has the ball. Now is my moment. Shine. You can see his dribbling skills. He is confident in his decisions and clinical in execution. I love it.”