Nicolas Jackson (£6.5m) and Mykhailo Mudryk (£5.0m) are serving suspensions for different reasons (Jackson for one more game, Mudryk indefinitely), while Levi Colwill (£5.0m) is out long term with a knee injury.
£4.5m Tosin Adarabioyo looks set for a short-term minutes boost, then. But Enzo Maresca did strongly hint that he wants a new centre-half in the transfer window.
“When we build, we build with Levi in the middle. Last year, we played 64 games, and we played 64 games with Levi and Tosin. Now, Levi is out, the only one who can do that job well is Tosin. But we have Premier League, Champions League.
“This is the reason why the club knows exactly what I think about central defenders.” – Enzo Maresca
Benoit Badiashile (£4.5m) and Romeo Lavia (£5.0m) are still out, too. Neither player has featured since the FIFA Club World Cup.
“Benoit is in the process to come back, Romeo exactly the same. Trev [Chalobah] is okay.” – Enzo Maresca
Wesley Fofana (£4.5m, thigh) has returned to training and “could” feature in Gameweek 1, while Trevoh Chalobah (£5.0m) has avoided injury despite Sunday’s scare against AC Milan.
“He could be available, we’ll see.” – Enzo Maresca on Wesley Fofana