Chelsea chiefs are plotting ways to cope without defender Levi Colwill after his serious ACL injury, which is expected to keep him out for the majority of 2025/2026.

The Cobham academy graduate will be sidelined for the foreseeable future, around six to nine months, as is the case with most ACL problems - leaving Enzo Maresca a key centre-half short ahead of what is an imperative Premier League campaign for him.

Expectations are high after their Champions League qualification, Conference League triumph and victory at the Club World Cup, with a solid central defensive pairing key to their potential success.

Trevoh Chalobah and Wesley Fofana will most likely start their opening Premier League game against Crystal Palace this weekend, considering Benoit Badiashile is also out injured, Axel Disasi remains surplus to requirements and summer signing Jorrel Hato is viewed more as a left-back.

Fofana's suffered from extensive injury problems of his own since making a £75 million move from Leicester City in 2022, so it is highly debatable whether the Frenchman can really be relied upon for long periods of the season.

Taking this into account, Maresca has reportedly asked Chelsea for a new centre-back in light of Colwill's injury.

"At the moment, Chelsea have still not sold Axel Disasi, so we need sales at the back really if they are to pursue a new centre back. Trevoh Chalobah still remains a player who could be sold by the club if an offer comes in because he represents pure profit," wrote journalist Simon Phillips, via his Substack.

"A solution is to potentially loan in a new centre back which as reported, they have been considering as well.

"But Chelsea are exploring all options internally and externally and SPTC Sources learned yesterday that Maresca has asked the club to sign a new centre back ideally."

Time is running out for the Blues to bring in a new central defender with just over two weeks to go before the transfer window slams shut, so Chelsea will need to operate quickly in terms of both identifying a top target and making room for him - amid their ongoing talks for Xavi Simons and Alejandro Garnacho.

Given Chelsea's links to PSG outcast Gianluigi Donnarumma too, this could be a hectic end to the window at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea plan direct offer for Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate

According to a report from Chelsea News, the west Londoners could turn to Anfield in search of defensive cover.

Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate has entered the final year of his contract, and Arne Slot's side face the very real prospect of losing their France international star for nothing in 2026.'

This has resulted in mounting speculation over his future and Real Madrid are widely reported to be serious admirers, but Liverpool have apparently quoted a seismic valuation of around £60 million, according to some media sources.

Nevertheless, it is now believed that Chelsea are planning a direct offer for Konate, and are prepared to test both Real and Liverpool's resolve by bidding "serious money" for the 26-year-old.

Konate is arguably one of the Premier League's best centre-backs, but his potential price tag and age doesn't exactly fall in line with Chelsea's traditional recruitment philosophy, so this would be a head-turning move to say the least.