Latest news with #central defender
BBC News
3 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Maresca at odds with Chelsea over Colwill replacement
Enzo Maresca says he has told Chelsea he wants to sign a new central defender to replace the injured Levi Colwill - but the club continues to seek an "internal solution".England international Colwill has had surgery on an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and is expected to miss most of the 22-year-old was a near ever-present for Chelsea last season in the Premier League, starting 35 of their 38 matches as they qualified for the Champions asked what he thought was the solution to replacing Colwill in his squad, Maresca said: "The club know exactly what I think."I think we need a central defender. We are looking for an internal solution but as I said, the club know exactly what I think." In addition to his Premier League contribution last season, Colwill played a major role as a substitute in the Conference League final and during the Club World Cup as the Blues won their first two major trophies under the current presence is key tactically, more than defensively but, crucially, Maresca believes that Colwill is his best central defender at build-up play from the back. "When we build, we build with Levi in the middle," said Maresca. "Last year we played 64 games and we played all 64 games with either Levi or Tosin [Adarabioyo in the middle]. "Now Levi is out. The only other one that he can do that job well is Tosin. But we have Premier League, Champions League, with these kind of players."The rest, they can adapt. [Jorrel] Hato is a new one, he never played as the guy 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. Also we have players that unfortunately, like Wes [Fofana] or Benoit [Badiashile], they have in this moment some [injury] problems. "And this is the reason why I said that the club knows exactly what I think about central defenders."Josh Acheampong and Trevoh Chalobah having been trialled in Colwill's role in wins over Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan during a short two-week are known to admire Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi - who is is a target for champions Liverpool - but they are currently planning to strengthen their attacking options in the final two weeks of the transfer window, amid talks with Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho and RB Leipzig midfielder Xavi Simons.
New York Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Chelsea ‘need a central defender' after Levi Colwill injury, says Enzo Maresca
Enzo Maresca believes Chelsea 'need a central defender' after Levi Colwill suffered an ACL injury that will see him ruled out for most of the season. 'You know how important Levi has been for us last season, for the way we want to play,' the Chelsea head coach said at a news conference on Friday. 'We said many times that we are able to create chances and to attack in the right way, if we are able to build in the right way. Levi was a huge part of our build-up and now he is out. Advertisement 'We are trying to find a solution internally, but the club knows exactly what I think and we will see what happens. 'I think we need a central defender.' Chelsea have several central defenders in their ranks — Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoit Badiashile, Trevoh Chalobah and Wesley Fofana, with Josh Acheampong also featuring there in pre-season and new signing Jorrel Hato having previously played there for Ajax — but Maresca believes it will be hard to replicate Colwill's role, as a left-footer in the middle of a back three, in the way his side build up. 'We build with Levi in the middle,' Maresca said. 'Last year, we played 64 games and we played 64 games with Levi and Tosin. Now Levi is out, the only one that can do that job well is Tosin. 'Also we have players that unfortunately, like Wes or Benoit, they have in this moment some problems and this is the reason why I said that the club knows exactly what I think about central defenders.' Chelsea have so far signed Liam Delap, Joao Pedro, Jamie Gittens and Hato this summer, with Dario Essugo and Estevao joining up with the squad after pre-agreed transfers. Maresca's side open their season with a home game against Crystal Palace on Sunday. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
BBC News
4 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Argyle in transfer 'no man's land'
Plymouth Argyle head coach Tom Cleverley says the club are no closer to bringing in a new striker or central who took over as Argyle boss in the summer, has identified the two positions as key areas for have been chasing an experienced central striker all summer, while a new central defender has become more of a priority after Julio Pleguezuelo had knee surgery."Everyone's working as hard as they possibly can," Cleverley told BBC Radio Devon."The hard work is going on behind the scenes."We're in that no man's land of the window - the majority on the business gets done really early or in the last week and we're in that no man's land where itl;s a bit of a stalemate between clubs."On the club's search for a central defender Cleverley added:"It's really tough. A lot of things need to align, if you've not got the money to blow everyone in the league out of the water, so it is how it is."I don't want to go into too much detail because I'd be revealing other clubs' issues or players', but there's more than just geographical and financial issues when trying to do these deals and we're suffering a couple of those challenges at the minute."
