Chelsea 'consider shock U-turn' as exiled star may return to 25-man squad

Chelsea could perform a surprise U-turn with previously exiled star Ben Chilwell after a move to Turkey failed to materialise.

The left-back is yet to feature for the Blues this season, having been told he's free to leave the club by new boss Enzo Maresca.

A move to Turkey had been mooted as a last resort, given the Super Lig transfer window doesn't shut until tonight - a whole two weeks after clubs in England concluded their business.

With it looking like his career at Stamford Bridge was dead in the water, Chilwell could now find himself part of Chelsea's 25-man Premier League squad for the 2024/25 campaign.

It's reported by The Telegraph Chilwell is hoping he'll be involved in the cut, which has to be submitted to the league on Friday.

Chilwell has been involved in first-team training at times, it's claimed, specifically when numbers have been down because of injuries or other absences.

But when Maresca has a fully fit squad of players, the ex-Leicester City man has been forced to train away from the senior squad.

The report states it isn't yet known if Chilwell will return to first-team training on a full-time basis if he's included in the Premier League squad, in which he'd count as a homegrown player.

Finding minutes between now and January - the next available time Chilwell can leave the club - could prove difficult though, especially given the defender wasn't included in Chelsea's UEFA Conference League squad.

Maresca has reportedly warned Chilwell that even if he or any other unwanted players remain at the club after the summer, it doesn't necessarily change his stance on whether they'll be involved on the pitch.

Chilwell had previously been exiled from the Chelsea squad by Maresca. Speaking before the start of the season the Italian said: "It's quite clear, I love the way he is but the problem is that he struggles with us a little bit to find his best position.

"This morning we had 22 players training, and if you ask all of them they will say they want to play against City on Sunday but that is impossible.

"When they train every day and do not get any minutes, it is not good for them or for me, [as] I need to make a decision. It is probably better to leave and get minutes [elsewhere]. The transfer window is open so we'll see what happens."

The two-time European champions return to action this weekend against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium - a ground Chelsea have managed just one win at in their previous four visits.