Chelsea told to sign ‘brilliant’ £40m star after Levi Colwill injury blow | Football

Chelsea are not planning to sign a new defender despite losing Levi Colwill to a season-ending injury, according to reports.

But Enzo Maresca has been told he should consider re-signing a former Blues player who is a transfer target for several of their close rivals.

The new Premier League season begins next week, with Chelsea one of the favourites to win the title after another summer of big spending and their impressive victory at the Club World Cup.

But their chances have taken a huge blow after it was announced that key player Colwill will miss the majority of the 2025/26 season after undergoing surgery on an ACL injury.

Only Moises Caicedo and Cole Palmer played more Premier League minutes for Chelsea than the 22-year-old last season and his absence will also disrupt England’s plans going into a World Cup year.

Maresca still has a number of centre-back options to call on, including Trevoh Chalobah, Wesley Fofana, Tosin Adarabioyo, but few play on the left-side of defence like Colwill.

Jorrel Hato has just signed from Ajax for £37million and is capable of playing at left-back or centre-back, but is only 19 and needs time to adapt to English football.

Nevertheless, Fabrizio Romano is among those reporting that Chelsea have no ’emergency plans’ to sign a new centre-back, with Maresca confident he has the players to deal with Colwill’s absence.

There has been suggestion however, that the west London club should make a move for their former academy product Marc Guehi, who has established himself as one of the league’s best defenders at Crystal Palace.

He captained the Eagles to FA Cup glory last season and is available for £40-50m as he has entered the last year of his contract.

Liverpool and Newcastle are very keen on Guehi, Tottenham still have an interest after seeing a £70m bid in January rejected and Chelsea even made enquiries about the 25-year-old in the last transfer window.

Speaking on talkSPORT, Arsenal legend Ray Parlour was asked whether he thought Guehi to Stamford Bridge was a good move, replying: ‘From Chelsea’s point of view, certainly.

‘He’s been brilliant at Palace. Palace don’t want to lose him, but they are a selling club.

‘They’re realistic and they might have to sell one or two of their players but from Chelsea’s point of view they’re getting a very, very, very good player.

‘£40million, that’s the rate these days. Everybody’s £40million at least and upwards.

‘If Liverpool get him, that will be another hammer blow for a lot of clubs who are trying to go for the title.’

With deadline day fast approaching, it remains to be seen whether any club will make a move for Guehi, but both Liverpool and Chelsea should get the chance to watch him first-hand over the next week.

Palace take on the Reds in the Community Shield on Sunday, before travelling to Stamford Bridge on August 17 for their first Premier League match of the new season.

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