Enzo Maresca drops second Chelsea transfer bombshell days before season with fresh demand

Chelsea bossEnzo Maresca has once more reiterated his desire for the club to buy a new centre-back before the transfer window closes. It comes afterLevi Colwill's ACL injury that is likely to see him ruled out for most of the season.

The Blues have already had a very busy summer transfer window, with the likes of Jorrel Hato, Jamie Gittens, Joao Pedro, Liam Delap and Dario Essugo all being brought in for the upcoming season. With Colwill out, Maresca has been left to find new ways of covering on the left of his defence.

Speaking to the media in his first pre-match press conference of the new campaignwith Chelsea taking on Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon, Maresca admitted: "I think we need a central defender."

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He added: "We are trying to find solutions internally. The club know exactly what I think." After the Bayer Leverkusen friendly, Maresca hinted at wanting the recruitment directors to dip back into the market to solve his problems.

"It's a priority because Levi is a fantastic player," he said on Friday. "What we achieved last season is because of him. He played all the games with me, I love him, we're going to miss him."

However, there had been some debate over whether Maresca simply meant replacing Colwill via his currently available options or with a new signing. Now, with the benefit of being asked clearly what his stance was, it has emerged that the head coach really is keen to add yet more bodies to his backline.

On the rest of the transfer window, Maresca continued: "We have a fantastic squad. We are happy with the squad we have, no doubt. When the transfer window is open, anything can happen."

Chelsea have a host of centre-backs on the books with Trevoh Chalobah and Tosin Adarabioyo covering for Colwill in the two friendlies over the weekend.Josh Acheampong is also a natural centre-back, although like his teammates just mentioned, he would prefer to operate on the right.

Benoit Badiashile is the left-footed alternative to Colwill in the squad but has struggled with injury for most of the past 18 months and rarely played in the league last season. He will not be back until September.

Wesley Fofana is in contention to feature against Palace, which would be his first game since March, but may well be eased into the fold after such a long time out with his latest fitness nightmare. Jorrel Hato has been mainly used behind Marc Cucurella so far since moving from Ajax but is adept in the middle as well.