Enzo Maresca has confirmed at least two clubs have registered an interest in Chelsea youngster Josh Acheampong.
The 19-year-old featured regularly in last season’s triumphant Conference League campaign but is keen for more regular first team football.
Acheampong started in Wednesday’s Club World Cup win over ES Tunis and his versatility is likely to be of use to Maresca in the remainder of the tournament if Chelsea go deep into the competition.
The player’s long-term future, however, is less assured particularly with several high-profile European clubs monitoring his situation.
When it was put to Maresca that both Newcastle and Borussia Dortmund ‘liked’ Acheampong the Chelsea boss did little to downplay their interest.
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He said: ‘The clubs that you mentioned like Josh but we also like Josh. All the good players any club like good players.
‘My plan with Josh is quite clear. I think potentially he can be a top defender for this club, it’s on him to also have the right timing to do the things.
‘We are full of young players full of talent, even defenders. The best plan for Josh is to be with us and I’ll be very happy if he is with us.’
Maresca was less emphatic when it came to discussing the future of Trevoh Chalobah who spent the first part of last season on loan at Crystal Palace.
An injury crisis saw Chelsea controversially recall the 25-year-old who went on to play a key part in the Blues’ successful end to a turbulent campaign.
He said: ‘In this moment all the players that are with us I don’t want to lose them, but we have said many times that when the transfer window is open many things can happen, to buy a player or to sell a player.
‘Trevoh came back to us in January, if we did a Champions League spot and top four spot it’s also because of Trev, he helped us a lot.
‘In this moment he also plays some games for us, we are happy with him. Anything can happen but not only for Trev but all 25 players in the squad.’