Chelsea transfer news: Enzo Maresca hints at potential disagreement with board over signing new centre-back

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has suggested that club officials currently disagree that his first-team squad requires a new centre-back.

Heading into pre-season, Levi Colwill was established as the team's leader in that position, but the England international has been ruled out in the long term with an ACL injury.

While Chelsea continue to possess an array of options for the middle of their backline, there is an argument that their chances of silverware are severely impacted if they fail to find an outside alternative to Colwill.

Heading into Sunday's Premier League fixture against Crystal Palace, there is also a fitness doubt over Wesley Fofana, who is yet to play in pre-season, while Benoit Badiashile is sidelined until September.

Maresca reveals desire to sign new centre-back for Chelsea

Speaking at his pre-match press conference, it came as no surprise that the topic of central defenders was high on the list of talking points, and Maresca made it clear that he wants to add to his squad.

That is despite reports that have indicated that Chelsea's hierarchy would prefer the Italian to use the options that he already has at his disposal.

Maresca said, as quoted by football.london: "We are trying to find solutions internally. The club know exactly what I think. I think we need a central defender."

He would later expand on why he views the need to sign a certain profile of defender as a direct replacement for Colwill.

Namechecking other players in the process, Maresca added: "It's not on the left side. When we build, we build with Levi in the middle. It's different to the player in the middle on the left side. Last year we played 64 games and we played 64 games with Levi and Tosin (Adarabioyo). Now Levi is out. The only one that he can do that job well is Tosin. But we have Premier League, Champions League, 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. So it's not about being a central defender. Yes, [he is a] central defender. Can he do that? It's different, it's not just about that.

"And 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."

What is current situation with Chelsea's centre-backs?

Trevoh Chalobah - who has been passed fit after suffering an ankle issue against AC Milan last week - and Tosin Adarabioyo are highly likely to start against Palace.

Nineteen-year-old Josh Acheampong is viewed as next in line, with club's officials allegedly keen not to upset the academy graduate by signing another centre-back when they have handed him a long-term contract.

Fofana could potentially be back on the substitutes' bench but without any minutes under his belt since March, while Jorrel Hato is viewed as deputy to Marc Cucurella at left-back even though he can be used as a left-sided centre-back.

Although Aaron Anselmino remains part of the squad for the time being, the expectation is that the Argentine prospect will soon sign for a European club on loan.