Manchester United allowed Jadon Sancho to join Chelsea on transfer deadline day without anybody arriving from Stamford Bridge in return.
The end of the summer window saw Manchester United strike one late incoming deal.
Manuel Ugarte arrived from Paris Saint-Germain before the window closed as United added new legs in midfield.
In terms of outgoings, Scott McTominay signed for Napoli and United allowed Jadon Sancho to join Chelsea on loan.
Sancho is already impressing for Chelsea and his loan move looks likely to become permanent in 2025.
The Blues seemingly weren’t in a position to strike a cash deal immediately after signing so many players, so have been forced to get a little creative.
Carney Chukwuemeka transfer latest
Reports late in the window suggested that Chelsea were offering United potential swap deals for Sancho.
Ben Chilwell and Raheem Sterling were both on offer but United didn’t pounce for either player.
There was another name in the mix though as United explored a deal for Carney Chukwuemeka.
Any deal for Chukwuemeka would have been a separate transfer on the books but United were keen.
The attacking midfielder had been made available by Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca but United didn’t get a deal done for him – and neither did anybody else.
That leaves Chukwuemeka as a misfit at Stamford Bridge and boss Maresca has now commented on his situation.
As quoted by Goal, Maresca noted that Chukwuemeka is a ‘very good player’ but really needed to leave Chelsea.
Maresca doesn’t feel that Chukwuemeka will play considerable minutes this season and wanted him to go and play elsewhere.
That didn’t happen but Maresca seemingly remains open to a potential deal given that he considers the lack of a deal ‘unfortunate’ – though he is looking to give Chukwuemeka more minutes if possible.
“I will say exactly the same thing I have said many times: Carney is a very good player, but for the amount of players we have, we decided at the beginning of the season it is probably better to leave and go somewhere, prove himself and playing 30 or 35 games than being here and play less games,” said Maresca.
“Unfortunately that didn’t happen. He is our player. He had some minutes the other day, today he was not involved. Hopefully, we can give him more minutes,” he added.
- READ MORE: Manchester United confirmed signings, transfers in, out, loan exits, releases for 2024/25
Chukwuemeka one to watch for January
Maresca’s comments don’t exactly sound like Chukwuemeka is about to break into the Chelsea starting lineup any time soon.
The likelihood is that Chelsea will still be open to selling Chukwuemeka in January and that is something which could appeal to United.
Chukwuemeka has been on the United radar for years having first targeted him from Aston Villa back in 2021.
A tall and rangy midfielder who can carry the ball through the middle of the pitch, Chukwuemeka offers a profile United don’t really have in the engine room.
Christian Eriksen is likely to move on in 2025 and United need to think about landing midfielders for the future.
Chukwuemeka fits the bill and having shown an interest in August, United are surely still tracking his situation.
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