Enzo Maresca drops Chelsea transfer bombshell as summer plans set to change

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has admitted that he wants the club to buy a new centre-back in the final three weeks of the summer transfer window after losing Levi Colwill to a long-term injury. The defender was ruled out for what is likely to be most of next season after having surgery on his ACL.

Against Bayer Leverkusen on Friday night, the first match back since the Club World Cup triumph in America, Maresca opted to start Trevoh Chalobah on the left with Tosin Adarabioyo replacing him at half time. Jorrel Hato came on at the break but went to left-back.

Chelsea have a host of defensive options but the most natural replacement for Colwill, Benoit Badiashile, is currently out with his own injury. football.london understands Badiashile is expected to return in September.

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Even without Colwill and Badiashile, Chelsea have depth with Josh Acheampong stepping up once more; he started alongside Chalobah against Leverkusen. Neither Renato Veiga or Axel Disasi have been given shirt numbers for the upcoming season.

Wesley Fofana is also yet to return to action but has been training with his teammates this week and was at Stamford Bridge alongside Badiashile for the Leverkusen match. Speaking afterwards, Maresca was open about his plans to reinforce.

"It's a priority because Levi is a fantastic player," he said. "What we achieved last season is because of him. He played all the games with me, I love him, we're going to miss him."

Ahead of the match, Maresca explained that Colwill's enforced absence had impacted his plans. His injury changes our preparation, very important for way we want to play," the Italian said. "His injury's changed a lot for us."

Colwill was near ever present for Chelsea last year, starting 35 Premier League games and building a relationship with a number of separate partners throughout. He had found his best form in a Chelsea shirt and carried it over to the Club World Cup but went down at the end of the first session back from holiday on Monday.

For now, Chelsea are continuing to work towards signing Alejandro Garnacho and Xavi Simons to bolster the front line. They are also exploring ways to move on Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku.

The pair were both left out of the squad on a strong night for Maresca and his preferred squad.Estevao Willian put in a man of the match display on his first appearance whilst Joao Pedro added a deserved second goal to kill off the game late on.

Jamie Gittens provided plenty of spark from the left when coming on as a substitute, Hato also looked at ease, even when inverting into midfield. Chelsea play Milan on Sunday in their second and final pre-season game. It is Crystal Palace and in-demand centre-back Marc Guehi who visit SW6 after thatin the opening game of their Premier League campaign.