Enzo Maresca says Chelsea looking to resolve Ben Chilwell situation

Chelsea is actively seeking solutions regarding Ben Chilwell (27), who was placed on the transfer market but did not secure a new club. As the transfer window has now closed, the defender may return to first-team training, as stated by manager Enzo Maresca (44) on Friday.

Chilwell, along with fellow England international Raheem Sterling, was among the prominent players sidelined by the Italian manager upon his appointment at the beginning of the season.

While Sterling was loaned to Arsenal on the deadline day, Chelsea was unable to transfer Chilwell, who joined the club in 2020 for approximately £50 million ($65.62 million) and has yet to make an appearance this season.

"Ben is likely the only one remaining with us. We will meet with him to discuss a way forward," Maresca informed reporters prior to Saturday's match against Bournemouth.

"He is expected to rejoin us for training... The reason for his separate training was the intention for him to depart. However, since a suitable opportunity did not materialize, he will likely begin training with us again. If we decide on this course of action, he will be included as one of the players."

Chilwell was instrumental in Chelsea's Champions League victory but has faced challenges in maintaining a regular position since suffering a knee ligament injury at the end of 2021.

His standing in the team diminished following the arrival of Marc Cucurella in 2022, and over the past two seasons, he has dealt with hamstring and knee injuries, resulting in only 13 league appearances last season.

Chelsea has garnered four points from their initial three league matches, placing them 11th in the standings. Maresca remarked that his youthful squad is progressing positively but must strike a balance between the "technical and physical aspects" of the game. "We utilized this international break to experiment with new strategies for the future," he added.

He stated, "We utilized this international break to explore new strategies for the future that we can implement."

"Additionally, we focused on defensive strategies to achieve a better balance. This does not imply that our defense is lacking... Teams like City, Arsenal, and Liverpool possess physically robust players, and we have that capability as well."