Chelsea giant transfer U-turn confirmed as Enzo Maresca drops surprise exit hint

Chelsea academy defender Josh Acheampong has returned to training after over a month out following contract disagreements with the club. The 18-year-old has just over 12 months to run on his current deal.

However, football.london understands that Chelsea retaliated against Acheampong last month after his camp backtracked on signing fresh terms. It was thought that the versatile right-sided defender - able to play centre-back and full-back - would commit to a new long-term deal.

Acheampong only signed a professional contract at the maximum length (three years) in January but has already seen interest in him rise from clubs around Europe. There is now added hope that the situation can be resolved, though, as he was spotted alongside Enzo Maresca's first team squad ahead of Thursday's Conference League group phase clash with Heidenheim.

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Chelsea will travel to Germany on Wednesday before the game, which poses as an opportunity for Acheampong to get himself back in the fold. He had been banished from training or playing with the senior and academy squads, not featuring for Felipe Coelho's Under-21 side either over the past five weeks.

Maresca is currently without first-choice right-back Reece James through injury while Malo Gusto - his deputy for much of the past year - is out with illness. Nominal centre-back Wesley Fofana played on the right of defence in the 2-1 win over Leicester on Saturday.

Axel Disasi has also filled in there for the Conference League but is not a natural fit for the role as much as Acheampong. Maresca's decision to play Disasi there against League Two side Barrow in the Carabao Cup earlier this season is thought to be among the reasons Acheampong was hesitant to tie himself to a new deal at Stamford Bridge.

Acheampong was not involved in a 2-1 Premier League International Cup victory for the Development Squad on Tuesday night. It did not come as a surprise at the time but now appears to be connected to his reappearance in training.

Fellow academy talents Sam Rak-Sakyi, Kiano Dyer, and Shim Mheuka were also present at Cobham. Rak-Sakyi and Mheuka both started at Kingsmeadow on Tuesday, the former made his senior debut against Noah in the 8-0 Conference League win last time out.

Tyrique George, a midweek regular for Chelsea this season, was also present. He started against Noah and will be hoping for more minutes against Bundesliga opposition on Thursday.