Chelsea have struck gold on “world-class” star

Nobody can deny, Enzo Maresca has exceeded expectations since his appointment at Chelsea, main the membership to a prime 5 place with over half the season already performed.

Undoubtedly, there’s nonetheless a protracted approach to go within the Premier League, however the indicators are all constructive for his long-term future on the helm in West London, doubtlessly ending their await a league triumph.

Nonetheless, accidents have performed their half in current weeks, with Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile each spending prolonged spells on the sideline, contributing to their current run of type which has seen only one win in six league outings.

Such setbacks have seen quite a few gamers deputising on the coronary heart of the defence, with Josh Acheampong and Tosin simply two of the gamers overlaying of their absence.

The opening of the January switch market might see the hierarchy as soon as once more strengthen after their earlier efforts out there, with one participant already continuously being touted with a return to Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea’s pursuit to re-sign Marc Guehi this month

Rumours have been persistent in current weeks, linking varied gamers from everywhere in the world to affix the Blues, however one merely received’t go away within the type of Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi.

The England worldwide joined the Eagles for simply £18m in the summertime of 2021, taking his profession to the subsequent degree because of his transfer throughout the capital – resulting in his success with membership and nation – captaining Palace and even going to Euro 2024 together with his nation.

Such efficiency ranges have seen Maresca’s males be touted with a January transfer for the 24-year-old regardless of already recalling Trevor Chalobah from his mortgage spell at Oliver Glasner’s facet.

Nonetheless, any deal could possibly be one other costly one for Todd Boehly, together with his present employers beforehand demanding a price within the area of £75m to half methods with their membership captain in the summertime after curiosity from Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United.

There’s little denying {that a} participant together with his top-flight expertise would bolster their present top-four ambitions, however given Chalobah’s return together with the rise in price ticket of one other Blues star – they may stroll away from a transfer for Guehi, placing religion within the present crop of gamers.

The participant who’s now price far more than Guehi

The aforementioned skills each got here by means of the Blues’ academy earlier than taking to skilled soccer like a duck to water – showcasing how spectacular the Cobham academy has been to the membership in recent times.

Nonetheless, they aren’t the one defensive stars to emerge in recent times, with Reece James simply one other who’s made the bounce into the first-team, even turning into the captain of the facet since his breakthrough.

He’s featured alongside Levi Colwill within the final 18 months, serving to the centre-back turn into one among England’s main defensive stars, even partnering Guehi on the worldwide stage.

After mortgage spells at Huddersfield City and Brighton and Hove Albion, the 21-year-old has since made 56 appearances for his boyhood membership, that includes in all however one league sport all through 2024/25.

The “world-class” Colwill, as dubbed by expertise scout Jacek Kulig, has produced some unimaginable figures in current months, finishing 90% of the passes he’s tried, discovering a teammate on 1369 events.

He’s additionally received 68% of the tackles entered thus far, together with 58% of his aerial battles – creating into the right possibility throughout the Italian’s possession-based system which depends on his defenders to have the ability to be commanding and cozy with the ball at his ft.

Because of his consistency, he’s seen his worth skyrocket consequently, now being valued at £100m by the membership in response to The Athletic, a price means past that of Guehi, additional showcasing his fast improvement in recent times.

Given his expertise and the opposite choices at Maresca’s disposal, there’s no actual must pursue a transfer for the Palace ace, with such a deal more likely to stop the method of the likes of Acheampong within the course of.

The membership have to be wishing that that they had initially saved maintain of Guehi a few years in the past, however given Colwill’s fast development, it’s clear they’ve themselves an even bigger expertise on their palms – permitting them to overlook a couple of potential reunion with the defender this month.