Ben Chilwell 'emerges as a loan target for European giants' after being frozen out at Chelsea by Enzo Maresca

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Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell is reportedly being targeted by a major European club in a shock potential loan deal as he searches for game time away from Stamford Bridge.

The 27-year-old has been frozen out by Blues boss Enzo Maresca since his arrival in the summer, only managing 45 minutes in all competitions this season.

That one half of football came in the Carabao Cup Third Round against Barrow, a game which Chelsea won 5-0, while he also been left out of every single Premier League matchday squad.

Chilwell was placed in the club's 'bomb squad' over the summer after being deemed surplus to requirements by Maresca and his staff but failed to get a move away from west London.

Juventus could offer the Blues defender an escape route as they look to bring in reinforcements at the back after both Juan Cabal and Gleison Bremer have been sidelined with serious knee injuries.

The Italian giants are interested in bringing Chilwell to Turin on loan in January, according to Tuttosport, and it's understood that they would only need to cover part of his wages.

Chelsea's Ben Chilwell has been linked with a January move to European giants Napoli

Chilwell hasn't been included in a single Premier League matchday squad under Enzo Maresca

Juventus left-back Juan Cabal is out with a serious knee injury and they need a replacement

Money is deemed to be tight at Juventus after they splashed big on both Douglas Luiz and Teun Koopmeiners during the summer.

But with Cabal set to be sidelined for the remainder of the season, Thiago Motta is in need of cover at left-back.

Juventus will seemingly need to battle it out with Napoli who are also believed to be keeping tabs on the England international.

Several Premier League clubs are also keeping a close eye on Chilwell's situation in the capital, but he may feel a move abroad is his best option to get his career back on track.

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The defender joined Chelsea four years ago and won the Champions League in his first season, but injuries and a loss of form has seen his career stall.

He failed to make England's Euro 2024 squad, despite a lack of fit left-back options at Gareth Southgate's disposal, and the last of his 21 international caps came back in March.

British stars who are looking to make the next step have seen the Serie A as a more than viable option in the past few months.

Scottish pair Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour moved to Napoli from Manchester United and Brighton respectively at the end of the summer window and have made promising starts to their time in Italy.

Thiago Motta's Juventus are currently embroiled in a tense battle near the top of the Serie A

Scottish pair Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour have found success in Italy with Napoli

Juventus are currently embroiled in a tense battle at the top of Serie A, sitting just two points off Antonio Conte's league leaders.

However, the competitive nature of the league means that they sit in sixth place, with just a solitary point splitting the top five teams.

The prospective transfer would also give Ben Chilwell the opportunity to play in the Champions League once more, which he hasn't done in a year and a half due to Chelsea's lack of status in the competition.

Juventus are fighting to qualify for the knockout rounds of the competition automatically, sitting 11th, just three places below Aston Villa who occupy the final slot.