Chelsea exit route emerges for Enzo Maresca favourite as January transfer plan clear

Cesare Casedei could leave Chelsea in January. The 21-year-old has struggled for game-time since his £12.6million move from Inter Milan in 2022 - having made just 15 first-team appearances for the Blues.

He spent the second half of the 2022/2023 season at Reading before joining Leicester on loan for the start of the following campaign. Casedei enjoyed a fruitful spell at the King Power Stadium under now-Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, playing 25 times across all competitions before being recalled by the Blues in January.

There was hope that Casedei's move back to Stamford Bridge would ensure he'd get more playing time, but he ended up being handed just 76 minutes of Premier League during the second half of last season. He made 11 top-flight appearances, but Casedei's longest cameo was just 15 minutes.

It prompted rumours that Casedei could leave Chelsea, once again, in the summer, but he stayed put following Maresca's appointment. Casedei has since found any further opportunities limited - starting twice in the Europa Conference League and once in the Carabao Cup while playing ZERO minutes in the Premier League.

According to Tuttomercatoweb, Monza, Real Betis and PSV Eindhoven are all keeping tabs on his situation ahead of a potential January swoop. It's added that Feyenoord have also joined the race for his signature. A loan move is likely for the Italy Under-21 international with a view for a permanent exit in the future.

Speaking last month, Casedei revealed that Maresca had changed his mind to stay at Chelsea, during this summer transfer window. The midfielder was contemplating a loan move, but decided to stick put at Stamford Bridge after a conversation with the former Manchester City coach.

"At the start of this season I was thinking about what was the best solution for me, but after the moment I spoke to the manager I was sure that the decision to stay was the best for me and for my career," Casedei said.

"I never had the idea to go, permanently, to another club. There were some possible loans, but I then spoke to the manager, he told me what he thinks. I had no doubt. I always wanted to play for Chelsea.

"I could not be more proud to play for Chelsea. Everyone understood from the first day what his idea was, how he wanted to play. It was very easy for everyone to understand what he wants. I really like how he wants to play, the way he thinks and the way he sees football.

"He's a great manager, because he's able to take the best out of every one of us. He's really demanding, but that's the way it should be. Everyone knows we are at Chelsea and there are high expectations."

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