Chelsea do not plan to sell Carney Chukwuemeka this summer or include a permanent clause in any loan contract, football.london understands.
As reported at the beginning of last month, the club are considering sending the 19-year-old midfielder out on loan this summer to help him get some more first-team experience elsewhere. Chukwuemeka made just 14 appearances in the Premier League in the 2022/23 season – his first at Stamford Bridge – with only two of them coming from the start.
The England Under-20s international has undeniable talent but could only show it in small patches in his debut season with the club due to limited opportunities with the senior side. Despite featuring in less than half of Chelsea's league games, football.london understands the midfielder is still very highly rated by those at the club ahead of Mauricio Pochettino's arrival at the beginning of next month.
Chukwuemeka has had to be patient at Chelsea in his first season at Stamford Bridge but next term could be different should he move out on loan elsewhere. AC Milan have enquired about Chukwuemeka's availability ahead of a loan move but Chelsea do not want to include an option to purchase the midfielder.
Pochettino is yet to meet any of his players with the Argentine not officially starting his role until July 1. But when he does see all of his players at Cobham for the first time, there is set to be a number of meetings that follow over their futures at the club.
Chukwuemeka, like so many in the Chelsea squad, face an uncertain future at the Blues in what is expected to be a really busy transfer window for the club. Chelsea are set to offload 10-plus players this summer with many in the final years of their contracts.
READ MORE: Chelsea news and transfers LIVE: All of the latest updates coming out of Stamford Bridge
N'Golo Kante has gone to Saudi Arabia with his contract at Chelsea expiring at the end of the month. Ruben Loftus-Cheek is also expected to leave the club with just over 12 months remaining on his deal in west London.
Meanwhile, there is a growing expectation that Conor Gallagher will leave Chelsea in the summer transfer window. football.london understands Newcastle United and West Ham United are both interested in the England international ahead of the window and for the right price, the Blues would be open to allowing him to leave.
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