Chelsea prepared to sell star in January who’s only played 49 minutes this season, surprise club interested

According to recent reports, Chelsea are willing to sell Carney Chukwuemeka in the January transfer window, with Ipswich Town among the clubs that have expressed interest.

 

Chukwuemeka joined Chelsea from Aston Villa in the summer of 2022 for a transfer fee of £20 million. However, his time at Stamford Bridge has been significantly affected by recurring injuries.

 

• Last season, the young midfielder managed just 12 appearances across all competitions under then-coach Mauricio Pochettino. Despite limited time on the field, he showed flashes of his skill and potential.

 

Ipswich’s Interest in Chukwuemeka appeared to be in line for a more active role under new coach Enzo Maresca, as he started Chelsea’s first two pre-season matches. However, that potential opportunity has not materialized.

 

The 21-year-old has yet to be named in a Premier League matchday squad this season, and his playing time has been restricted to just 49 minutes across both the Conference League and Carabao Cup.

 

Although he was not sidelined over the summer and continues to train with Chelsea’s first team, his opportunities for game time have been extremely limited.

 

During the summer transfer window, reports indicated that Chukwuemeka’s contract included a £40 million release clause. While there was interest from other clubs, Chelsea ultimately decided to keep him, with journalist Fabrizio Romano explaining that the club rejected loan offers. Chelsea reportedly viewed Chukwuemeka as a valuable asset with strong potential and preferred to keep him within the squad rather than loani

ng him out.