Chelsea exile ‘more than happy’ to play for club despite Enzo Maresca treatment | Football

The left-back was one of over a dozen players, known as the ‘bomb-squad’, exiled by the new manager over the summer and told they had no future at the club.

But while the likes of Raheem Sterling, Conor Gallagher and Romelu Lukaku were able to secure a transfer away, Chilwell is still at Stamford Bridge.

There was never any serious interest in the England international thanks to his high wages, said to be £200,000-a-week, and concerning injury history.

He has been tentatively linked with a move to a club in Turkey, where the transfer window closes on Friday, but all signs point to him staying put for now.

Maresca has previously stated that he will not reverse his decision on letting exiled players back into training and Chilwell was not named in Chelsea’s Conference League squad.

The 27-year-old is not expected to be included in the club’s Premier League squad either which will be confirmed on Friday, meaning the only way that he’ll play for the Blues again this year is in the Carabao Cup.

Sources close to the defender also believe it ‘makes no sense’ to not play him at all as it would only decrease his value and make him less appealing to buyers when the transfer window reopens in January.

Chelsea begin their cup campaign with a home clash against League Two side Barrow on September 24, but it remains to be seen what predicament Chilwell will find himself in by then.

Before that, the Blues travel to Bournemouth on Saturday night and then visit London rivals West Ham on September 21.

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