Enzo Maresca can't hide true feelings after Chelsea youngster is brutally frozen out

Enzo Maresca admits it's "a shame" that academy product Josh Acheampong has been frozen out due to a contract dispute.

It emerged earlier this week that the highly-rated Cobham graduate, 18, unless he committed to a new deal, with his current contract due to expire in 2026.

Acheampong was included on the Blues pre-season tour after but has not been included in the first-team squad. The defender will not be considered for selection by the development team, either, per .

revealed on Wednesday that he had spoken with the youngster about the situation before expressing his regret that Acheampong would miss out on Thursday night's Europa Conference League tie with Panathinaikos.

READ MORE:

READ MORE:

“To be honest, I feel a bit of shame for Josh because I think this kind of games can be an opportunity for him. I had a chat with him, personally, about three weeks ago; about his situation and the chat we had was a very good chat, a positive chat but since that moment I haven’t spoken to him again.

”As I said, it’s a shame. I think Josh potentially can become a top player. He is still 18, so still very young, so many things can change for him, but he can potentially be (a) very important thing for Chelsea.

“It’s so important for the club that our intention is not to lose him. The first thing we need to do is to find a solution for his future.

Do you think Chelsea are doing the right thing with Acheampong?

“The most important thing at this stage is to get minutes, enjoy and to play football. For him, I don’t know the people who are trying to solve the problem, if they are helping him or not. I really like Josh and I would really like to have him here with us but it is not possible.”

While Chelsea would like to retain Acheampong's services for the long-term, talks with the promising defender have stalled. The situation has not gone unnoticed elsewhere, either, with Acheampong said to be being targeted by other major clubs.

Acheampong has featured just once under Maresca this season, playing 27 minutes in their 5-0 win over League Two outfit Barrow in the Carabao Cup last month.

and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our