As we wrote earlier today, there are a few important names on the list of players likely to leave Chelsea this January – Ben Chilwell and Carney Chukwuemeka were both up for sale in the summer but a destination couldn’t be found.
Now, with less going on around them, we expect both to be moved on. Enzo Maresca admitted as much in his press conference earlier today, saying that the pair are “probably the first who want to leave because they work every day, they train every day, because they want to play games.”
More Stories about Cesare Casadei
Stamford Bridge in the early evening, quite generic. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Stamford Bridge in the early evening, quite generic. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
A Chelsea flag waves at Stamford Bridge.
But Fabrizio Romano has today added another name to the list of players “planning to leave Chelsea in January.”
🚨🔵 Carney Chukwuemeka, Ben Chilwell… but also Cesare Casadei’s also planning to leave Chelsea in January.
Serie A remains the most likely destination for Casadei with several clubs keen on signing him. More to follow soon. 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/iHlx3Y3LZE
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 20, 2024
Cesare Casadei has played more minutes than Chilwell or Chukwuemeka – including 90 minutes last night – but still won’t be happy with being such a fringe player at this stage in his career.
He knows minutes in central midfield will be hard to come by, and knows that Andrey Santos will likely be returning from his loan at Strasbourg in the summer to make competition even more intense.
Casadei knows it’s time to move on – and teams are interested
Cesare Casadei passing the ball. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images
Cesare Casadei passing the ball. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images
Casadei has plenty of talent, but probably feels he’s too far from the first team to justify staying at Stamford Bridge.
Romano says his native Italy is the “most likely destination” for Casadei, with “several clubs” in Italy’s top flight keen on signing him. We suspect even the top sides over there will like Casadei’s potential – he’s got goal in him, plenty of physicality and looks primed for a senior Italy call up once he becomes a regular somewhere.
There is plenty of potential left to unlock – it just doesn’t look like it will happen at Chelsea, so a departure looks a good idea all round.