Chelsea defender Benoit Badiashile has insisted he wants to stay at the club and fight for his place amid reports that he could be set to leave the Blues.
Badiashile, 23, joined Chelsea from AS Monaco in the summer of 2023 for a fee of £32.7 million.
Since the move, he's been widely criticised for his performances, including by former Chelsea defender William Gallas, who last month said the Frenchman "isn’t at the level needed" for the Premier League.
This season, Badiashile has been limited to just nine minutes of top flight football, and according to a recent report from Foot Mercato, Chelsea could now be open to moving him on in January.
Inter Milan are understood to be interested in the defender, who has won two caps for France.
Speaking to the press on Wednesday ahead of Chelsea's game against Noah in the Europa Conference League, Badiashile was asked about those exit rumours and if he wanted to stay at Stamford Bridge.
His reply was simple.
“Yes of course I want to stay," he said. "Chelsea are a big club. I know it’s difficult to succeed here, but I will try to do my best to do it.”
Asked about his lack of game time in the Premier League, Badiashile said: "When you are a footballer you want to play every game but at a club like Chelsea there are a lot of good players and when you get a chance you have to take it."
"The only thing I can do is work hard and try to convince the gaffer to play me," he added.
Maresca on Felix: His time will come
Another player struggling for first-team minutes at Chelsea this season is Joao Felix.
Since returning to West London from Atletico Madrid in the summer, the Portugal international has been limited to just over 90 minutes of Premier League football, and has been an unused substitute in all of the Blues' last three games in the top flight.
He has, however, been a regular starter for Chelsea in their cup competitions, including in the Europa Conference League.
Against Panathinaikos on matchday two, Felix led the line superbly, scoring twice in a comprehensive 4-1 victory.
Maresca told the press on Wednesday that if the 24-year-old forward keeps putting him performances like that, his time in the Premier League will come.
"I feel a shame for Joao and I would like to give him more minutes in the Premier League, but we need defensive balance," said the Italian coach.
He added: "I don’t have any doubts that if Joao keeps working well, he will find his moment in the Premier League."
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