Napoli boss Antonio Conte plotting January transfer move for Chelsea outcast Ben Chilwell

Napoli are eyeing a move for Chelsea’s Ben Chilwell in the January transfer window, with Antonio Conte believed to be an admirer of the out-of-favour left-back.

Chilwell was frozen out of Chelsea’s first-team plans following Enzo Maresca’s appointment as manager in June and the defender was encouraged – in no uncertain terms – to find a new club.

In the weeks that followed, Chilwell was named as a member Chelsea’s so-called ‘bomb squad’, which also included the likes of Raheem Sterling, Trevoh Chalobah, Carney Chukwuemeka and Cesare Casadei.

And while Chilwell made a surprise substitute appearance in Chelsea’s Carabao Cup victory over Barrow, the 27-year-old is keen to find an escape route out of Stamford Bridge in order to secure regular playing time elsewhere.

According to The Sun, Chilwell is ‘expected’ to leave Chelsea in January and Napoli are closely monitoring the full-back under the orders of head coach Conte, Chelsea’s manager from 2016 to 2018, who is said to be a ‘huge fan’.

There is a possibility Napoli could sign Chilwell on an initial loan deal with an option to buy the player outright at the end of the 2024/25 campaign.

Napoli will not have a free run at Chilwell, though, with Premier League trio Fulham, Crystal Palace and Ipswich all ready to pounce for the England international in the winter.

The report claims Chilwell still has serious ‘concerns’ about his lack of minutes at Chelsea, despite Maresca hinting that he could be welcomed back into the fold.

‘At the moment we need him, why not?’ Maresca said following Chelsea’s 5-0 thrashing of Barrow.

‘I said already many times and I will say again that, as long as Chilly is with us, he is a Chelsea player. And if we need him, we give him a chance and minutes.’

After a difficult start to life in west London, Marc Cucurella has nailed down his place as Chelsea’s left-back, starting all seven of the club’s matches in the English top flight this season.

Chilwell still has three years remaining on his current contract with the Blues.

After joining Chelsea for a fee in the region of £50million in 2020, Chilwell has gone on to make 107 appearances in all competitions for the club.

The former Leicester star was an integral member of Thomas Tuchel’s Champions League-winning side of 2021, featuring in all but three of the team’s matches across their triumphant campaign.

At international level, Chilwell has been capped 21 times but was left out of Gareth Southgate’s England squad for Euro 2024 after an injury-hit season last term.

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