Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca says England left-back Ben Chilwell and midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka could leave the club in January.
Neither player has featured in the Premier League this season and have barely been involved in the Conference League and Carabao Cup.
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 could not sort out a move before the transfer deadline.
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.”
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.”
