Carney Chukwuemeka is finding minutes hard to come by at Chelsea (Image: Getty)
are keen to sell Carney Chukwuemeka permanently this winter but there is one club they would consider sending him to on loan, according to reports.
Sides in England, Germany and Italy are believed to be keeping track of the 21-year-old, who has started just one game across all competitions this season. But with a hefty release clause written into his contract, suitors are yet to bite.
If the Blues are unwilling to drop Chukwuemeka’s asking price and no buyers come forward before the end of the month, a loan exit may prove to be the best option for all parties. According to , chiefs have decided that they would only send him to sister club Strasbourg.
That would require some January jiggery-pokery, given that the Ligue 1 side would not be allowed to take another player on loan from after welcoming Caleb Wiley, Djordje Petrovic and Andrey Santos during the summer.
Wiley would be the most likely candidate for a Stamford Bridge recall as he has been used sparingly compared to Petrovic and Santos.
Chukwuemeka enjoyed runs in the first-team after completing a move from Aston Villa in 2022. But a series of knee injuries disrupted his rhythm last season, and he has been unable to fight his way back into the fold.
Carney Chukwuemeka started Chelsea’s win in Astana last month (Image: Getty)
Crystal Palace and West Ham have both been linked with Chukwuemeka, whose only minutes this campaign aside from four games in the UEFA Conference League came via a brief substitute cameo in the Carabao Cup.
manager made it clear during the summer that the midfielder would struggle to get a run of games if he stayed put. “Carney is a very good player but because of some injuries in the past… I think it’s important he plays 30 or 35 games in a row,” said the Italian. “Is he going to play that for us? I’m not sure.”
Fellow outcast Ben Chilwell remains on the market, but his massive wages are a stumbling block for interested clubs. Youngsters Deivid Washington and Harvey Vale are expected to leave before the end of the month, while West Ham target Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall could depart on loan.
are reportedly hoping to sign a centre-back to bolster their defensive ranks. Club chiefs retain an interest in their former youth player, Marc Guehi, who has only 18 months left on his Crystal Palace contract. Alternatively, they could activate a clause to recall Trevoh Chalobah from his loan at Selhurst Park.