Chelsea: Enzo Maresca confirms wonderkid Kendry Paez with Blues at Club World Cup | OneFootball

The Ecuadorian has finally joined the squad two years after signing

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Kendry Paez has joined Chelsea at the Club World Cup, Enzo Maresca has confirmed.

Despite being rated highly by the club, his Chelsea future remains unclear amid reports he could join BlueCo sister club Strasbourg on loan.

Paez was pictured training with the Ligue 1 outfit in April, with reports from L’Equipe suggesting the club were evaluating him ahead of a potential move.

He spent time with the Ecuador national team earlier this month, playing 14 minutes in a goalless draw away to Peru. His future Chelsea teammate Moises Caicedo completed 90 minutes in the tie.

Maresca has now confirmed that Paez is with the Chelsea squad at the Club World Cup.

He said: "Kendry [Páez] is with us. He asked to spend time with us and train.

“We'll see what the plan is in the next few weeks."

Paez, a versatile forward, will face considerable competition for minutes should he stay with Chelsea next season, and could benefit from the opportunity to spend a campaign plying his trade in Ligue 1.

The potential for him to move to Strasbourg had been reported earlier this month, with Mathis Amougou also expected to make the same move.

Chelsea sent two players on loan to Strasbourg last season in Andrey Santos and Djorde Petrovic.

Maresca also confirmed that Reece James and Nicolas Jackson had missed training in the formidable Philadelphia heat, which this week has touched 40°.

He continued: "Reece didn't train because he was ill. Levi Colwill was also ill, but he took part in the session.”

He also confirmed that Nicolas Jackson, who will miss the Tunis tie as he serves a one-match red card suspension, was spared the sweltering conditions.

"Nico was not in the session this morning. It's the day before the game and he was not with us as a result.”