Chelsea are usually not planning to sign a brand new defender despite losing Levi Colwill to a season-ending injury, in accordance with reports.
But Enzo Maresca has been told he should consider re-signing a former Blues player who’s a transfer goal for several of their close rivals.
The brand new Premier League season begins next week, with Chelsea one in every of the favourites to win the title after one other summer of massive spending and their impressive victory on the Club World Cup.
But their probabilities have taken an enormous blow after it was announced that key player Colwill will miss nearly all of the 2025/26 season after undergoing surgery on an ACL injury.
Only Moises Caicedo and Cole Palmer played more Premier League minutes for Chelsea than the 22-year-old last season and his absence can even disrupt England’s plans going right into a World Cup 12 months.
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Maresca still has a lot of centre-back options to call on, including Trevoh Chalobah, Wesley Fofana, Tosin Adarabioyo, but few play on the left-side of defence like Colwill.
Jorrel Hato has just signed from Ajax for £37million and is able to playing at left-back or centre-back, but is barely 19 and desires time to adapt to English football.
Nevertheless, Fabrizio Romano is amongst those reporting that Chelsea haven’t any ’emergency plans’ to sign a brand new centre-back, with Maresca confident he has the players to take care of Colwill’s absence.
There was suggestion nonetheless, that the west London club should make a move for his or her former academy product Marc Guehi, who has established himself as one in every of the league’s best defenders at Crystal Palace.
He captained the Eagles to FA Cup glory last season and is obtainable for £40-50m as he has entered the last 12 months of his contract.
Liverpool and Newcastle are very keen on Guehi, Tottenham still have an interest after seeing a £70m bid in January rejected and Chelsea even made enquiries concerning the 25-year-old within the last transfer window.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Arsenal legend Ray Parlour was asked whether he thought Guehi to Stamford Bridge was a great move, replying: ‘From Chelsea’s standpoint, actually.
‘He’s been good at Palace. Palace don’t wish to lose him, but they’re a selling club.
‘They’re realistic and so they may need to sell one or two of their players but from Chelsea’s standpoint they’re getting a really, very, superb player.
‘£40million, that’s the speed nowadays. Everybody’s £40million at the very least and upwards.
‘If Liverpool get him, that will likely be one other hammer blow for a number of clubs who try to go for the title.’
With deadline day fast approaching, it stays to be seen whether any club will make a move for Guehi, but each Liverpool and Chelsea should get the prospect to observe him first-hand over the subsequent week.
Palace tackle the Reds within the Community Shield on Sunday, before travelling to Stamford Bridge on August 17 for his or her first Premier League match of the brand new season.
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