Enzo Maresca wants a new central defender at Chelsea and the blues have no time to deliver one before the transfer window closes if they choose to make a last move
Chelsea has been told to take a step for Marc Guehi to solve their problems in the middle of the defense. The blues were hit by the news that important defender Levi Colwill will miss most of the season when they returned before the preseason, and Enzo Maresca now has fewer options that he would like.
And ex-Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood thinks that Chelsea Academy product Guehi is ideal for returning to Stamford Bridge. The Palace star has left for a year to his contract in Selhurst Park and Liverpool hopes to land the English international.
Guehi will not become cheap despite his contract situation, with the Eagles and Liverpool still apart in their value of the player. The Reds currently have the opportunity to wait until next summer, so Chelsea could still benefit.
But Maresca was told to work with internal options, even though he made it clear that the team needed a new addition to fill the gap that was left by Colwill. Against Crystal Palace, with Tosin Adarabioyo who also reported injured, 19-year-old Josh Acheampong Trevoh Chalobah accompanied in defense.
Speaking as the last week, the coach of the ex-Manchester City revealed that he wanted a new central defender, but that the club would look at internal options. Maresca said: “I think we need a central defender. We are looking for an internal solution, but as I said, the club knows exactly what I think.”
Sherwood believes that Chelsea should now act and that Palace can run the risk that their captain can leave for free. “Marc Guehi is the obvious choice for Chelsea to replace Levi Colwill in the middle,” Sherwood told Betbrain.
“He is a player who will hit the ground in Chelsea, who has played in the Premier League for a few years and to a very high standard. They can run the risk of next season when his contract in Crystal Palace ends, but there will be a queue to sign him without a doubt.
“It seems that both Liverpool and Chelsea's head of Guehi are his way of Palace. Ibrahima Konate will be out of contract for Liverpool next season and although Guehi might not start for him or Virgil van Dijk, he would be a solid replacement if the club would be in the competition in the competition in the competition in the competition in the competition in the competition in the competition in the competition in the competition in the competition in the competition in the competition in the competition in the competition in the competition in the competition in the competition in the competition in the competition in the competition in the competition. Competition in the competition in the competition in the competition in the competition in the competition in the competition in the competition in the competition in the competition in the competition in the competition in the competition in the competition in the competition in the competition and gauke would be in the competition and gaue guehi invoice in that account.
“My feeling is that Steve Parish wants to try to hold Guehi for as long as possible, but Palace knows that they cannot allow him to leave for free – it would be a huge loss.”
Maresca has emphasized that his desire to replace the characteristics of Colwill in the team. The Italian coach believes that he has a shortage of options to replicate the profile of the defender.
“When we build, we build in the middle with Levi,” said Maresca. “Last year we played 64 games and played all 64 games with Levi of Tosin [Adarabioyo in the middle].
“Now Levi is out. The only others he can do well is Tosin. But we have Premier League, Champions League, with these types of players.
“They can adjust the rest. [Jorrel] Hato is a new one, he never played as the man in the middle last season [with Ajax]So it's not about being a central defender.
“Yes, [he is a] Central defender, but can he do that? It's different. We also have players who unfortunately, like Wes, [Fofana] or Benoit [Badiashile]They currently have some [injury] Problems.
“The one in the middle in my way is so important. And this is why I said the club knows exactly what I think of central defenders.”