Ben Chilwell’s time at Chelsea appears to be coming to an end, at least temporarily. Struggling for game time under new manager Enzo Maresca, the English left-back has been overshadowed by Marc Cucurella in the pecking order.
With only one official appearance this season, against Barrow in the EFL Cup, Chilwell is eager to find a new club where he can play regularly and regain the trust of England’s new head coach, Thomas Tuchel. According to multiple English sources, the former Leicester City defender is set to join Crystal Palace on loan, with a medical scheduled in the coming hours.
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca acknowledged the difficult situation but defended his decision to limit Chilwell’s playing time. “Ben is very professional, he works hard. I am ashamed of this situation, but in terms of his behavior, he has been irreproachable. His absence is simply a choice, because I have players like Malo Gusto, Reece James, or Marc Cucurella who can do different things on the wings,” Maresca explained.
A move to Crystal Palace could provide Chilwell with the opportunity he needs to revive his career ahead of the summer’s international competitions.
