Carney Chukwuemeka
Carney Chukwuemeka (Image: Getty Images)
Former Aston Villa midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka has been permitted a loan move away from Chelsea in the January transfer window, with both Old Firm sides Celtic and Rangers reportedly offered the chance to sign the England youth international next month.
Chukwuemeka won the FA Youth Cup with Villa in 2021 and was on the periphery of the first team under Dean Smith and then Steven Gerrard. He made 16 first-team appearances for Villa, including three starts, but he left for Chelsea in the summer of 2022 for a fee worth in the region of £20m.
The young midfielder, who is still only 21, has suffered with injury setbacks since moving to Stamford Bridge, but nevertheless he has made only 31 appearances across two and a half years at the Blues. This year, Chukwuemeka has been limited to minutes in the EFL Cup and the Europa Conference League, such is the competition for places under Enzo Maresca.
As a result, it's claimed that they could allow Chukwuemeka to leave the club in January and he has been offered to both Celtic and Rangers; Brendan Rodgers' Bhoys are in pole position to secure another Scottish Premiership title and have held their own in the Champions League this season, too. Rangers, meanwhile, have done similar in the Europa League.
Austria born Chukwuemeka, who signed for Villa in 2016 from Northampton Town - and was eventually joined at Villa by his brother Caleb - has represented England at every age level from under 17 to under 20.