Premier League giants Chelsea are still hoping to move on £50 million left-back Ben Chilwell with Turkish trio Galatasaray, Fenerbahce and Besiktas all keen on the England international.
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While Chelsea managed to ship out both Raheem Sterling and Trevoh Chalobah on deadline day – moving to Arsenal and Crystal Palace respectively – one member of Enzo Maresca’s so-called bomb-squad remains stuck at Stamford Bridge.
Ben Chilwell was offered to Manchester United as part of the deal which brought Jadon Sancho to West London, HITC can confirm.
The Red Devils had little interest in considering such a proposal despite losing both Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia, however, with Chilwell also suffering with multiple injury issues of late.
Brentford held talks, but were unable to get a deal done before last Friday’s 11pm deadline.
Fortunately, there are still a few windows open across the continent. Turkish Super Lig clubs can sign players until September 13th, meaning that Chelsea have a week to agree terms with one of Istanbul’s powerhouses over their £50 million misfit.
Chelsea in talks to send Ben Chilwell to Turkey
HITC have been told that talks have taken place with Galatasaray, Fenerbahce and Besiktas. All three clubs are willing to take Chilwell on loan, offering terms that appeal to Chelsea.
The former Leicester City ace is now considering his options, in the knowledge that staying at Stamford Bridge could see him stuck on the sidelines for the next few months.
Marc Cucurella has established himself as Maresca’s number one left-back after an outstanding European Championships, while Renato Veiga – the summer signing from Basel – has made an excellent first impression with a handful of all-action displays.
Chilwell is one of around 20 players training apart from Maresca’s first-team squad, Chelsea putting themselves in a rather awkward position due to remarkable number of signings brought in during the Todd Boehly era.
“The situation with both of them (Chilwell and Sterling) is quite clear,” Maresca said in late-August, via Sky Sports’ official YouTube channel. “We have a big squad and for me it’s impossible give all of them minutes. If they are looking for minutes, probably it is better to leave.”
“With (Chilwell), I said that he’s a lovely guy. But he’s going to struggle. If you define this as brutal, it’s up to you.
“I am not working with 42 players. I’m working with 21 players. The other 15 or 20, they are training apart.”
Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce lost Ferdi Kadioglu to Brighton
Galatasaray, one of the clubs in discussions over a short-term deal for Chilwell, won Turkey’s top flight last season while accumulating over 100 points along the way. Fenerbahce, meanwhile, have hired legendary former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho in an attempt to end a long wait for Super Lig glory.
Mourinho lost his left-back Ferdi Kadioglu to Brighton and Hove Albion. Thus, opening the door for Chilwell to take his place.
“We lost a great player,” Mourinho says via Antalya Express. “The club did not want to sell (Kadioglu). If the player had accepted (the contract we offered), he would have been one of the highest-earning full-backs in Europe.
“He was here physically, but his soul was not here. Everything was done for him to stay here. A smart decision was made.”
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