Chelsea defender Tosin Adarabioyo is set to miss the club's opening Premier League clash with Crystal Palace due to injury, according to Peter Rutzler.
Enzo Maresca enjoyed a strong debut season at Stamford Bridge, guiding Chelsea to a fourth-placed finish in the English top flight and winning both the Conference League and Club World Cup. With Champions League football on their agenda once more, Chelsea, who are no stranger to spending in the market, have made a number of additions to their squad.
Strikers Joao Pedro and Liam Delap have moved to London, as have wingers Jamie Gittens and Estevao. Elsewhere, Chelsea have signed defenders Jorrel Hato and Mamadou Sarr from Ajax and Strasbourg respectively and midfielder Dario Essugo from Sporting. Unsurprisingly, Chelsea remain interested in making further additions.
Despite the addition of Hato, Maresca has spoken about the need to recruit another centre-back, particularly after Levi Colwill suffered a long-term injury. This idea is something that the Italian may become more focused on, given what has since broken about another of his defenders.
Tosin To Miss Palace Clash
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Though the act is "purely precautionary," Rutzler has reported that Tosin will miss Chelsea's season opener against Crystal Palace after feeling a "small issue" during training. Since joining the club last summer, Tosin, who earns £120,000 per week, has been a key player for Maresca, one who has brilliantly understood his tactical philosophy.
The Blues are well-stocked at centre-back on paper, with the likes of Trevoh Chalobah, Wesley Fofana, Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile on their books alongside the aforementioned duo.
Maresca's desire for another centre-back in the aftermath of Colwill's injury, however, suggests that the former Leicester City boss is far from satisfied with his current options. Though two defenders have been recruited already this summer, both are young and Hato, the more likely of the duo to receive first-team minutes, may be seen more as a left-back than centre-back.
It remains to be seen if Tosin's injury proves to be something more serious, but it is clear that Maresca feels the Blues need further reinforcement in the heart of their defence before the September 1st transfer deadline.
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