HITC understands that Brentford are in talks with Chelsea over the loan signing of Ben Chilwell.
- EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey
Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea have been busy this summer as the blues hope to make a return to the UEFA Champions League after finishing in seventh place under Mauricio Pochettino.
Maresca’s Chelsea put six goals past Wolves and the squad could well be coming together nicely but this has meant that certain players have gone to the periphery and therefore available for moves in the transfer window, which closes in a matter of hours.
To that end, HITC understands that Thomas Frank’s Brentford are in talks with Chelsea over the signing of Ben Chilwell, who has struggled hugely with injuries.
Brentford in Ben Chilwell loan talks
Chilwell now looks set to be departing Stamford Bridge on a temporary basis with the former Leicester City left-back in talks over a move to Brentford.
Maresca is seemingly trying to cut down his squad with the Blues having a huge number of players on their books. Another one of these players who could be moving is Raheem Sterling.
Sterling is understood to be frustrated by Maresca’s comments and the Englishman now looks set to be omitted from the Blues’ Premier League squad unless he gets a move.
Whether the same applies to Chilwell is unclear but the left-back, who has been blighted by injury problems since his move to Stamford Bridge, now looks set to be leaving.
Sources have told HITC that Brentford are confident of finalising a deal for the Chelsea defender in time before the window closes.
Brentford set for busy end to window
As well as the potential addition of Chilwell, HITC understands that Brentford are closing to agreeing a deal for Southampton’s Jayden Meghoma.
The Bees are understood to be paying around £10 million for the promising English left-back and HITC also understands that any deal for the teenager will not impact their pursuit of Chelsea’s Chilwell.
Maresca commented on Chilwell’s future to the BBC and the Italian manager has made it abundantly clear that minutes will be hard to come by for the English left-back.
“With Chilly, I said he is a lovely guy, but he is going to struggle because of his position,” Maresca said.
“He is going to struggle. If you define this as brutal, it’s up to you to decide. For me, it’s not brutal, it’s just honest.”
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