Chelsea defender Levi Colwill is set to miss a significant portion of the upcoming season after undergoing successful surgery for an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.
The Blues kick off their Premier League campaign at home to Crystal Palace on August 17, but Enzo Maresca will not have the 22-year-old at his disposal after Colwill sustained the injury in training at their Cobham base.
A huge blow for Maresca after a summer full of optimism, the news could possibly open the door for Jorrel Hato to fill in at centre-back, after spending much of his final season at Ajax playing left-back.
However, it is also expected that the Blues will dip back into the market, with Maresca confirming as much.
“It is a priority for me. Levi is a fantastic player. What we achieved last season is because of him. He played a lot of games with me, I love him. We are going to miss him.” – Maresca speaking to Channel 5
Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi has been strongly linked with a return to his boyhood club, but the name on everyone’s lips in recent days has been Barcelona and Uruguay centre-back Ronald Araujo.
Indeed, Todd Boehly and Co are expected to make a €50m (£43m) bid for the 26 year-old in the coming days, a figure which would be enough to tempt a cash-strapped Barca into a sale, according to reports.
Chelsea add Bayer Leverkusen defender to centre-back shortlist
Guehi and Araujo are not the only names on the agenda, as The Daily Mail believe Chelsea are admirers of of Bayer Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapie. While their report confirms that both Liverpool and the Blues will press again for Guehi, it seems the Ecuador international, who won a domestric treble in Germany two seasons ago, could be on his way to Stamford Bridge.
Hincapie, who like Hato is a left-sided centre-back who can also fill in on the flank, has been strongly linked with a move to the Premier League since his breakthrough into the Leverkusen side, with Liverpool thought to be admirers back in January.
Speaking during the winter transfer window, his agent claimed his client is one of the best in the world at his role.
“Basically he’s a warrior, he’s a leader. He is, for me, one of the best left central defenders in the world. One of the best left-backs and the best hybrid players for sure.”
Chelsea may also have a smooth path to negotiations on the player side of things if they move for the South American, as his AS1 Agency also represent current Blues midfielders Moises Caicedo and Dario Essugo.
What’s more, there is plenty to suggest Hincapie would be a superior signing to Araujo, averaging more tackles, inrterceptions and blocks per 90 minutes than the Barca star over the last 365 days, while also progressing the ball better.
Per 90, Last 365 days
Hincapie
Araujo
Tackles
1.86
1.69
Interceptions
1.07
0.78
Blocks
1.46
1.34
Progressive passes
4.81
4.16
The Blues may need to shift a few of their current defenders – such as Axel Disasi who has been linked with Wolverhampton Wanderers – before making their move, but all signs point towards Hincapie and Hato boasting the perfect balance to reinforce the left side of defence after Colwill’s injury.