Maresca is done with one playerplaceholder image
Maresca is done with one player | Getty Images
Chelsea are still looking to sell a defender, even at a time of need.
Chelsea are still said to be looking to sell a defender at a time when they need to find a new centre-back. The Blues have lost another key defender just as they prepare to welcome back Wesley Fofana from a long-term injury that cost him almost all of last season.
Fofana is expected to be back in contention for the start of the new Premier League season next week, but he will not be joined by Levi Colwill, who will now lose much of his campaign through a ruptured ACL that required surgery.
A club statement confirmed after the Bayer Leverkusen friendly: “Defender Levi Colwill has today undergone successful surgery to an anterior cruciate ligament injury. The 22-year-old had reported back to Cobham for pre-season at the start of this week, before unfortunately sustaining the injury in training.
“Medical assessments confirmed surgery would be the required course of action. Levi will now begin his recovery and be supported by the club's medical department at Cobham during his rehabilitation phase.”
After that injury, Maresca confirmed Chelsea would now be in the market for a new centre-back to replace Colwill, even after the signing of Jorrel Hato, with Trevoh Chalobah likely to stay, while there is less certainty surrounding Benoit Badiashile and Tosin Adarabioyo.
Chelsea also have Renato Veiga on their books, but it looks as though their stance on the Portuguese defender has not changed. The Blues want to sell, and that’s despite the Colwill injury and the fact Veiga enjoyed a productive loan spell with Juventus last season.
Fabrizio Romano posted on X: “It is a priority for me. Levi is a fantastic player. What we achieved last season is because of him. He played a lot of games with me, I love him. We are going to miss him. We are trying also to find different solutions.”
Maresca initially spoke in glowing terms of Veiga, saying: “I just said to Renato, he has played already as a centre-back, a full-back, holding midfielder, attacking midfielder. He has already played four or five positions. One of my first press conferences, I said that the reason why I really like and love Chelsea is because many players can be versatile.
“Today, in my idea, if they can play different positions, then it is better for the team and especially for the players. Today, if you just play one position, I don’t think it’s enough. You need to learn more positions. Renato, Malo [Gusto], they are playing in different positions and they are doing well.”
But when later asked about Veiga’s lack of playing time during the season, he responded: “Well, I said many times I also want long hair! But we have more than 20 players and they all want to play but it's not possible.”
It now seems as though Maresca’s mind is made up on Veiga, and Chelsea see the Portugal international as a sellable asset as they continue to juggle their spending.
Continue Reading