Adam Wharton and Eberechi Eze respond to Ben Chilwell’s message as Chelsea exit looms
Ben Chilwell’s career is at a crossroads as both Chelsea and Crystal Palace weigh up the defender’s next move.
Enzo Maresca made his thoughts on Chilwell clear last season and quickly dropped the left-back from Chelsea’s first-team upon his arrival at Stamford Bridge, and restricted him to just one appearance.
That sole cameo came in the form of a Carabao Cup victory over Barrow in September, before the 28-year-old was given an escape route in January and was sent out on loan to Oliver Glasner‘s Palace.
Chilwell featured a further 11 times for the Eagles and scored against Wolves on 20 May, but was firmly behind Tyrick Mitchell in the pecking order and didn’t get off the bench in their FA Cup final victory.
Chilwell posts Chelsea update after Crystal Palace return
Palace’s success in the FA Cup means they’ll be competing in Europe next term on top of their domestic duties, but it remains to be seen if Chilwell will return to Selhurst Park after his loan deal this summer.
Glasner is keen to bulk up his squad and Palace are actively looking to bolster their stocks at left-back, but The Sun reported on 29 May that Chilwell is not topping the list of summer targets at Selhurst Park.
With seemingly no future at Chelsea for the defender, Chilwell has posted on Instagram (23 June) with a selection of images to document his off-season in Ibiza as uncertainty lingers over his future.
Another exit-linked full-back in Kyle Walker-Peters commented with both a ‘soap’ and ‘handshake’ emoji, while Chilwell’s ex-Palace team-mates Eberechi Eze and Adam Wharton both liked the post.
Chilwell in limbo after Crystal Palace transfer setback
Football Insider Verdict
Re-signing Chilwell on a permanent deal is the least of Palace’s worries this summer, as Glasner battles to keep the likes of Eze, Wharton, and captain Marc Guehi amid increased interest from Liverpool.
Palace’s interest in Reinildo Mandava makes far more sense than any move for Chilwell, with the Atletico Madrid left-back’s versatility to cover central defence being a huge plus point within Glasner’s setup.
A return to the England setup under former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel will be top of the agenda for Chilwell, but with no interested clubs coming forward, he’s currently set to return to Chelsea with huge question marks over his future.