Chelsea have lost Levi Colwill for the majority of the season because of an ACL injury.
Right now, they are also without Tosin Adarabioyo, who missed the team’s Premier League opener against Crystal Palace.
Nevertheless, it is looking highly unlikely that Chelsea will bring in a new central defender before the transfer window closes in September.
There is some good news, though. Adarabioyo may not be out for too long, with his injury not thought to be anything serious.
Tosin Adarabioyo, Levi Colwill, Andrey Santos and Angelo of Chelsea react following the pre-season friendly match between Chelsea FC and Wrexham
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Chelsea don’t think Levi Colwill replacement is out there
Since news of Colwill’s injury broke, Chelsea have been linked with several centre-halves.
In fact, it has even been claimed that Chelsea have made an unsuccessful bid for Alessandro Bastoni, Inter Milan’s star defender.
He seems unattainable this summer, though, and unless that changes or another elite centre-back becomes available, it looks like the Blues will not sign a replacement for Colwill.
According to The Athletic, Chelsea are reluctant to spend money on another central defender because they do not think an adequate Colwill replacement is even on the market.
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It is not something that Enzo Maresca will want to hear, with the Chelsea boss already making his feelings on the whole situation very clear.
Chelsea's Italian head coach Enzo Maresca reacts after a missed opportunity
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Enzo Maresca fires warning to Chelsea board
In public and privately, Maresca has let Chelsea’s co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley know that he needs another centre-half.
That plea, though, is likely to fall on deaf ears, unless an incredible market opportunity presents itself.
Speaking prior to Chelsea’s 0-0 draw with Palace, Maresca told BBC Sport and other outlets: “The club know exactly what I think. I think we need a central defender. We are looking for an internal solution but as I said, the club know exactly what I think.”
Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly and director Paul Winstanley in Stamford Bridge box
Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images
With Colwill and Adarabioyo both out of that game and Wesley Fofana only fit enough to start on the bench, Maresca went for a Trevoh Chalobah and Josh Acheampong centre-back pairing.
They did well, managing to keep a clean sheet against a Palace side who had a couple of really dangerous attackers in Eberechi Eze and Jean-Philippe Mateta.
Not everyone was impressed with Acheampong, but in the end the 19-year-old and Chalobah got the job done, at least defensively.