Chelsea outcast Ben Chilwell linked with shock Napoli transfer but host of Premier League rivals also in the hunt
BEN CHILWELL could be the latest Premier League star to join the exodus to Napoli.
SunSport can reveal the Italian giants – who have already signed Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour – are tracking the Chelsea full-back.
He’s expected to leave Stamford Bridge in January and Napoli boss Antonio Conte is believed to be a huge fan of the England defender.
Chilwell could move on loan with an option to sign a long-term deal at the end of the season.
But Napoli won’t have it all their own way. It’s understood a host of Premier League clubs are also admirers of Chilwell.
Fulham, Palace and Ipswich are all monitoring the situation and could make their move in January as well.
The England ace almost left Chelsea over the summer but stayed at Stamford Bridge after failing to find a new club.
But sources say the ex-Leicester City full-back is concerned about the lack of game-time he is likely to get in West London so is open to a move.
Chelsea are also thought to be keen to explore the option of letting Chilwell leave as they grapple with the demands of trying to manage a massive squad.
It comes just weeks after it seemed Chilwell had secured a dramatic pathway back into the fold at Chelsea after being named in their Premier League squad.
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The £50 million defender was one of the infamous ‘bomb squad’ of unwanted stars banished to train away from the rest of the first-team1 squad by hardline head coach Enzo Maresca during the transfer window.
But after failing to find a new club for the one-time England left-back, Chilwell was later included on the 25-man list of players for top flight games this season in a surprise U-turn.
Chilwell’s last appearance for Chelsea was as a two-minute sub appearance in the FA Cup semi final defeat to Manchester City back in April.
Chelsea managed to offload many of those stars in a frantic finish to the latest transfer window – Raheem Sterling joined Arsenal, Trevoh Chalobah is on loan at Crystal Palace and keeper Kepa Arribalaga joined Bournemouth on loan too.
No deals could be done for Chilwell and he will now remain at Chelsea until January at the earliest.
His long term place at Stamford Bridge looks shaky with Marc Cucurella and Levi Colwill ahead of him in the pecking order at left back.