EXCLUSIVE: Chelsea defender Chilwell open to Leicester return
The defender joined Leicester City’s academy aged 12 and won their Academy Player of the Year award at the end of the 2014–15 season. He left for Chelsea in 2020 for €50.2 million and has played 239 games for the West London club so far, winning the Champions League and UEFA Super Cup along the way.
But now we are told that Chilwell is allowed to leave the club and now his former side are looking to resign the former England international.
According to sources, the newly-promoted Foxes are keen on a loan deal for the 27-year-old to bolster their struggling defence, which have already conceded 12 goals this season.
Meanwhile, Chilwell is open to the idea of a move due to his limited playing time at Chelsea. With his contract running until 2027, the Blues are believed to be willing to explore the option of letting him leave as they manage their squad.
Manager Steve Cooper is said to be monitoring the situation closely ahead of the January transfer window and is a big fan of Chilwell.
Will Chilwell leave?
Chilwell was linked with a move to Manchester United over the summer after it was made clear by Blues boss Enzo Maresca that the player was not in his plans.
The England defender was Chelsea’s vice-captain under Mauricio Pochettino last season, but he was cast aside upon the Italian’s arrival and was essentially told to find a new club during the summer.
However, no suitors emerged and despite being omitted from Chelsea’s matchday squad for the opening stages of the new campaign, Chilwell was still a Blues player when the summer window slammed shut. He marked his return with a substitute appearance against Barrow in the Carabao Cup.
At the time, Maresca admitted: “In the moment we need him [Chilwell], for sure, why not? I will say again, at the moment he is with us, he is one of the Chelsea players and one of our players. If we need to, we will give him chances and minutes.
“We all make mistakes. I had to make a decision; sometimes they are good and sometimes not. There is not any bad intention from me. It was just to try and think of the best thing for the club.”
Although Chilwell made his first appearance of the campaign versus Barrow, he remains Chelsea’s third-choice left-back as things stand.
Marc Cucurella is currently Maresca’s favoured option, while summer signing Renato Veiga is the Spaniard’s back-up.
