Enzo Maresca confirms Chelsea transfer 'plan' with update on three players

Enzo Maresca has hinted that two Chelsea players could leave the club before the January transfer window closes.

Maresca was speaking ahead of the Blues' FA Cup third-round tie at home to Morecambe on Saturday afternoon. Chelsea will host the League Two club at Stamford Bridge, but the background noise is being dominated by the ongoing transfer speculation.

Chelsea have until February 3 to complete their transfer business ahead of the second half of the season. Rumours have been swirling about the players that could sign for the Blues before the window closes, but now Maresca has spoken about potential departures.

With the prospect of players being cup-tied if they feature in the FA Cup and go on to join another English club, Maresca has confirmed that Ben Chilwell and Cesare Casadei will not be part of the squad to face Morecambe due to the possibility they could leave the club before the transfer window closes.

"Kiernan [Dewsbury-Hall] has an injury, so he won't be able to play," Maresca told reporters on Friday.

"Chilwell, for him, he is thinking about to leave so it is better to avoid using him and avoid injuries and these type of things. The plan is to not use Ben tomorrow [versus Morecambe]".

"Cesare [Casadei] will not be in the squad," Maresca added. "It's more or less the same situation as Ben [Chilwell].

"The plan is to not give him minutes if there is an opportunity for him to go and play."

Maresca also spoke about Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's future as a Chelsea player. The Blues midfielder has played just 55 minutes across five appearances in the Premier League this season and is currently sidelined with an injury, but Maresca believes Dewsbury-Hall has what it takes to thrive at Stamford Bridge.

"For sure, he [Dewsbury-Hall] has a future with us," said Maresca. "Also, because, when you want to send players on loan, it has to be from all the sides; the players, the club and the manager.

"It is not just about what I want. For sure, he has to do that [fight for his place], no doubt. I know Kiernan quite well, and he is going to do that."

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Chelsea ended the 2023/24 Premier League season on a high, but it is never quiet at Stamford Bridge and the summer looks set to be one full of news, with question marks over Mauricio Pochettino's future at the club and plenty of talk around transfers.

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