Nobody can deny, Enzo Maresca has exceeded expectations since his appointment at Chelsea, main the membership to a high 5 place with over half the season already performed.
Undoubtedly, there’s nonetheless a protracted solution to go within the Premier League, however the indicators are all optimistic for his long-term future on the helm in West London, probably ending their anticipate a league triumph.
Nonetheless, accidents have performed their half in latest weeks, with Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile each spending prolonged spells on the sideline, contributing to their latest 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 available in the market, with one participant already continually being touted with a return to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea’s pursuit to re-sign Marc Guehi this month
Rumours have been persistent in latest weeks, linking varied gamers from all around the world to affix the Blues, however one simply won’t go away within the type of Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi.
The England worldwide joined the Eagles for just £18m in the summertime of 2021, taking his profession to the following stage on account 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 move 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 payment in the region of £75m to half methods with their membership captain in the summertime after interest 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 might stroll away from a transfer for Guehi, placing religion within the present crop of gamers.
The participant who’s now value far more than Guehi
The aforementioned abilities each got here by way 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 lately.
Nonetheless, they aren’t the one defensive stars to emerge lately, with Reece James simply one other who’s made the soar into the first-team, even changing 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 become considered one of 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 recreation all through 2024/25.
The “world-class” Colwill, as dubbed by expertise scout Jacek Kulig, has produced some unimaginable figures in latest months, completing 90% of the passes he’s tried, discovering a teammate on 1369 events.
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Levi Colwill stats for Chelsea within the Premier League (2024/25) |
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|---|---|
|
Statistics |
Tally |
|
Video games performed |
20 |
|
Minutes performed |
1799 |
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Go accuracy |
90% |
|
Passes accomplished |
1369 |
|
Aerials gained |
58% |
|
Tackles gained |
68% |
|
Interceptions made |
24 |
|
Stats through FotMob |
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He’s additionally gained 68% of the tackles entered thus far, together with 58% of his aerial battles – growing into the proper 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.
On account of his consistency, he’s seen his worth skyrocket consequently, now being valued at £100m by the membership in keeping with The Athletic, a payment manner past that of Guehi, additional showcasing his speedy growth lately.
Given his expertise and the opposite choices at Maresca’s disposal, there’s no actual have to pursue a transfer for the Palace ace, with such a deal more likely to forestall the method of the likes of Acheampong within the course of.
The membership should be wishing that they’d initially stored maintain of Guehi a few years in the past, however given Colwill’s speedy development, it’s clear they’ve themselves an even bigger expertise on their arms – permitting them to overlook a couple of potential reunion with the defender this month.
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