Maresca admits Chelsea RIFT: Blues boss confirms transfer tension

Robin Bairner

15 Aug 2025 10:00 BST
4 min read

Enzo Maresca has admitted there is background tension at Chelsea over the club’s transfer policy.

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The Blues have once again been prominent players in the market this summer, with signings to the value of €280 million made.

The West London outfit are expected to spend big once more to sign RB Leipzig playmaker Xavi Simons, but first must offload players.

Current ETV

Levi Colwill

D (C)

Chelsea

Levi Colwill

D (C)

Chelsea

ETV Range

€53.2M - €65M

Maresca, who led the Blues to Club World Cup glory a month ago, has suggested that the board should have a different priority: replacing the injured Levi Colwill.

Chelsea’s defensive plans have gone up in smoke following an ACL injury to the England centre-back. Now the manager wants help from the board – but he says he is unlikely to get it.

“I think we need a central defender, but we are looking for an internal solution. But the club knows exactly what I think,” he grumbled to the media.

The Stamford Bridge club have been blighted with central defensive injuries, with Benoit Badiashile still out, Wesley Fofana doubtful and Trevoh Chalobah recovering from a knock ahead of their Premier League clash with Crystal Palace on Sunday.

© IMAGO - Levi Colwill is expected to miss much of the season

Maresca dismisses Hato option

While the Chelsea board might point to summer signing Jorrel Hato as a possibility to fill the role, Maresca has dismissed that as an option.

“We built with Levi in the middle. Last year, we played 64 games. We played 64 games with Levi and Tosin Adarabioyo. The only one that can do that job well is Tosin. The rest they can adapt. Hato never played making three in the middle. It's not about being a central defender,” he said.

Maresca’s comments are not the first time that he’s made a plea to the Chelsea board for more support in finding a replacement for Colwill.

After beating Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 in friendly action last week, he said: “Strengthening the defence is a priority because Levi is a fantastic player. 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.”

Despite the manager’s pleas, Chelsea remain “reluctant” to sign another centre-back, leaving Maresca scrambling to find a solution from inside his squad.

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