Xabi Alonso in the dugout at Chelsea, with Brian Brobbey in action for Sunderland
Xabi Alonso in the dugout at Chelsea, with Brian Brobbey in action for Sunderland
Chelsea are accelerating plans to sign at least one new centre-back in January amid fears of a major weakness in their side.
The Blues lost 1-0 against Sunderland last time out, and the partnership of Levi Colwill and Wesley Fofana at the back proved insufficient to deal with the Black Cats' attack.
Brian Brobbey is one of the best and most physical number nines in the Premier League, and badly exosed Chelsea's weaknesses, raising concerns at Stamford Bridge.
Former Man United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that Chelsea "desperately" need to sign a more physical defender to strengthen Xabi Alonso's side's resolve.
Centre-back has long been a problem position for the Blues, who splashed out big money to sign Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace in an attempt to relieve their concerns.
However, in his absence through injury, their weaknesses were exposed once again and plans are now being put in place to aid Alonso with important new additions.
Why is Xabi Alonso concerned about Chelsea's defence?
Former Tottenham scout Bryan King warned Football Insider back in September that defensive issues could be Chelsea's downfall this season if they are not resolved.
Since then, Alonso's side have conceded 16 goals in 10 league games, more than all but one side in the top half of the table, and have kept just three clean sheets across all competitions.
Their weakness at center-back has been a major part of those issues, and work is now ongoing to resolve their concerns, with the addition of new defenders seen as a priority.
"Brian Brobbey caused no end of problems for those Chesea centre-backs at the weekend," Brown told Football Insider.
"He exposed a major weakness in that team, one that they've known about for a while, that they don't really have that fight and grit in their back line that they desperately need.
"Brobbey ragdolled Colwill more than once, it was like men against boys, and for a team with Chelsea's aspirations, you can't afford to be put in a nightmare situation like that.
"As I said, we've been saying for a while that Chelsea need new centre-backs, and that has finally been made clear, so they're going to be stepping up those transfer plans.
"It has to be a priority for them because it's such a weakness in that team, and they're never going to have success with defenders who constantly get bullied by strikers.
"Sunderland exposed that weakness and other teams will too, so they have to go out and bring in players to help them cope with those types of issues."
Which centre-backs are on Chelsea's radar?
Chelsea's growing doubts about their current defensive options are likely to force them into the transfer market, with multiple top options already on their radar.
Lacroix's signing was made a priority during the summer, but there is a lack of quality depth behind the France international, and multiple targets are now being eyed.
Brown told Football Insider on 27 October that Chelsea could even consider a sensational return for Antonio Rudiger, who will leave Real Madrid for free next summer.
The 33-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season, and reports in Spain have suggested he is unlikely to put pen to paper on an extension under Jose Mourinho.
Rudiger's experience, know-how, and personality would all be valuable assets for a young Chelsea side, while his physical willingness would solve their glaring issue.