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Ex-England midfielder Danny Murphy has warned Ben Chilwell he’s ‘not going to play’ under new Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca.
Chilwell has made more than 100 appearances for the Blues since completing a £45m move from Leicester City in 2020.
The 27-year-old is viewed as one of the best left-backs in the Premier League when fit and firing but has suffered two injury-plagued seasons at Stamford Bridge.
His absence for much of last season gave Marc Cucurella the chance to revive his Chelsea career and the Spaniard impressed, winning over Blues fans after a poor start to his spell in west London.
Cucurella’s rise continued at Euro 2024 where he starred in Spain’s European Championship victory, playing almost every minute for Luis de la Fuente’s side.
Given the trajectory of both Cucurella and Chilwell, Murphy cannot see the latter starting for Chelsea this season and believes he may need to find a new club.
Chelsea are certainly willing to cash in on some first-team players given their extraordinary spending spree and Manchester United were linked with a move for Chilwell earlier in the summer.
‘He’s not going to play,’ Murphy said on talkSPORT when Chilwell was named as a potential leader in Chelsea’s young and inexperienced squad.
‘[Marc] Cucurella is going to play after the Euros he had and the end of the season he had. I think Chelsea fans would rather have Cucurella now.’
Asked where that leaves Chilwell, Murphy added: ‘Picking up his dough and waiting for a move.’
Murphy slams Chelsea transfer strategy
Wolves star Pedro Neto became Chelsea’s latest summer signing earlier this week and joins the likes of Omari Kellyman, Tosin Adarabioyo, Marc Guiu, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Filip Jorgensen in arriving at Stamford Bridge.
Murphy has described Chelsea’s transfer strategy as ‘nonsensical’ and believes the Blues are set for another difficult season.
‘I’ve never seen anything like it in my life,’ he said. ‘It’s absolutely nonsensical.
‘The guys in charge of recruitment are either being told what to do or they don’t know what they’re doing, it’s one or the other. How can it be logical or financially viable to do what they’re doing?’
Asked where he expects Chelsea to finish this season, Murphy added: ‘Eighth? Seventh or eighth.’
Maresca’s reign as Chelsea manager begins on Sunday when the Blues welcome Premier League champions Manchester City to Stamford Bridge.
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