Chelsea star Ben Chilwell ‘could be offered escape route out of Stamford Bridge by European giants’, with former Blues manager ‘a big fan of the out-of-favour defender’

Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell could be lined up for a surprise move to a major European club in the January transfer window.

The 27-year-old has been left out of Chelsea this season by new manager Enzo Maresca, making just one appearance in the Carabao Cup and being left out of each of the team’s Premier League round-robin squads.

He was placed on the club’s ‘bomb squad’ over the summer after being deemed surplus to requirements, but was unable to move away from west London.

However, he could finally be given an escape route away from Stamford Bridge in January as Napoli are interested in signing him, according to The Sun.

It is understood the Serie A outfit are monitoring Chilwell, with former Blues boss Antonio Conte a “big fan” of the left-back.

Chelsea’s Ben Chilwell linked with a January move to European giants Napoli

Chilwell did not appear in any Premier League team under Enzo Maresca

Former Chelsea manager Antonio Conte is a big fan of the defender and could try to bring him to Napoli

A loan move could be the most likely outcome, with the option of making the move permanent next summer.

Several Premier League clubs are also keeping tabs on Chilwell, but he may feel a move abroad is his best option to revive his career.

The defender joined Chelsea four years ago and won the Champions League in his first season, but injuries and a loss of form stalled his career.

He failed to make England’s Euro 2024 squad, and the last of his 21 caps came in March.

However, a move to Napoli could help them get back to their best, with a number of former Premier League stars already starring under Conte in the opening weeks of the season.

Scottish duo Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour moved to Napoli from Manchester United and Brighton respectively at the end of the summer window and have made a promising start to their spell in Italy.

Former Man United star Scott McTominay has enjoyed a strong start to life at Napoli

After losing the first game of the season 3-0 in Verona, Napoli have won five of their last six Serie A games to open up a two-point lead at the top of the table.

They look set for a much better campaign this season under Conte after enduring a disastrous 2023-24 season which saw them finish 10th and miss out on European football just 12 months after winning the league.

Napoli return to action on Sunday when they travel to Empoli.