Chelsea manager confirms veteran defender is set for January exit

There appears to be no way back for Gary Cahill at Chelsea as boss Maurizio Sarri suggested the former England defender will be allowed to leave in this transfer window.

Now 33, Cahill, has barely figured in the Premier League since Maurizio Sarri replaced Antonio Conte at Stamford Bridge and there have been a handful of clubs that would love to recruit him this month.

Two of Cahill’s former clubs – Sheffield United and Aston Villa – have been linked with the player as well as Premier League teams including Southampton and Fulham.

At his press conference today, Sarri said Chelsea already have a potential replacement for Cahill – Welsh international Ethan Ampadu.

“His mind is not completely involved in our situation,” said Sarri. “We have to wait. For Cahill, the situation is different. We have Ampadu so we don’t need a replacement.”

Formerly with Exeter City, Ampadu is highly rated at Chelsea and played in the FA Cup win over Nottingham Forest on Saturday. He has also played several times in the club’s Europa League campaign.

On a day when reports from Germany suggested Callum Hudson-Odoi wanted to quit the club for Bayern Munich, Sarri gave an update on the situation.

“He is a very important player,” said Sarri. “He is young but improving, especially in the defensive phase. He is improving and I am very happy with him. I don’t know the situation for the club, but for me he is an important player.

“I don’t think so (moving to Germany to be a good situation). He is an English player, he has a great future here in England, with the national team with Chelsea.”