Enzo Maresca reveals double Chelsea selection decision with transfer twist

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Evening Standard

·10 janvier 2025

Enzo Maresca reveals double Chelsea selection decision with transfer twist

Blues duo will not play against Morecambe in the FA Cup as exits likely loom, but there is hope for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall

Ben Chilwell and Cesare Casadei will be left out Chelsea’s squad to face Morecambe in the FA Cup as the pair look to secure January exits.

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Both players have been deemed surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge and manager Enzo Maresca does not want to jeopardise their prospects of a move by risking injury.

Chelsea hoped to sell Chilwell last summer but could not find a buyer. While the England international was eventually reintegrated into Maresca’s first-team squad, he has made just one appearance all season, as a substitute against Barrow in the Carabao Cup in September.

“Chilwell, for him, I think in this moment is thinking he is probably going to leave, so it is probably better to avoid using him to avoid that kind of situation, [in case of] an injury or this kind of things,” Maresca confirmed on Friday. “So, the plan is not to use Ben tomorrow.”

Casadei has been more involved this season, featuring in all but one of Chelsea’s Conference League group stage games.

However, the 22-year-old has not played a minute in the Premier League and made the bench only four times in 20 matches.

The Italian midfielder is now the subject of interest from his homeland, with Torino in negotiations with Chelsea over a potential move.

“For him, probably in this moment, the idea is not to allow him to play some minutes in case there is any opportunity for him to go and play,” Maresca said. “At this moment, this is the best thing for him.”

Maresca did not confirm whether Casadei’s likely exit would be on loan or on a permanent basis.

“The only thing I can say is Cesare didn’t get minutes for us, not because he’s not good,” he added. “He is a good player and in the middle we have [Moises] Caicedo, Enzo [Fernandez] and [Romeo] Lavia - for me, who are the same position.

“Cesare has shown how good he can be in the Conference League, playing all the games as a No6; physically strong and good in the air. He is a good player but we have already many good players in that position so he didn’t get the minutes.”

Another Blues midfielder who has been linked with a January exit is Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

The Englishman, who excelled under Maresca at Leicester last season, has struggled to break into the first team at Chelsea and has been linked with an immediate return to the King Power Stadium, as well as West Ham.

Dewsbury-Hall is currently sidelined with injury and will not be available to face Morecambe, but Maresca insists his Chelsea career is not over.

“In this moment, Kiernan is our player,” he said. “For sure, he has a future with us.

“When you want to send players on loan, or you want to bring a player, it has to be from all the sides; from the players, the club, the manager.

“So, it is not just about what I want. It is about to make a decision all together but at the moment there is no plan for Kiernan.”