Chelsea have already made transfer decision to replace Wesley Fofana amid huge injury blow
Enzo Maresca has already responded to Chelsea's latest major injury blow, which may involve Wesley Fofana missing the rest of the 2024/25 season. The Blues boss has been rather fortunate when it comes to injuries since taking charge, but that appears to have now changed.
Though he was able to confirm that Reece James will be able to feature and that Romeo Lavia is very close to returning, Maresca issued a worrying update on both Benoit Badiashile and Fofana. "Unfortunately Wes [Fofana] will be out for a very long time and Benoit [Badiashile] will be out for at least until February," he admitted.
"Unfortunately, he [Fofana] could be out for the season. We don't know exactly but he could be out for part of the season. Every time you ask me about Wes, I said many times I am in love with Wes. "No, not at the moment [for surgery]. For sure not Benoit and Wes not at the moment."
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On the initial update being that he would likely only miss a few weeks, Maresca added: "It was the first update and the first information we had but having a test, we realised it was worst than what we thought at the beginning.
"It is hamstring and unfortunately, we are going to lose him for a while." Though Badiashile may return next month, that is two key defensive absentees that Chelsea have to contend with and therefore it looks as though Maresca is taking no time to add needed depth.
On Friday morning, the club confirmed that Aaron Anselmino had returned from his loan spell at Boca Juniors, joining Ronnie Stutter and Gabriel Slonina back at the club from their temporary moves to Burton Albion and Barnsley, respectively. However, there is one key difference with Anselmino.
The former duo will likely either head back out on loan, go into the youth set up or depart permanently while football.london understands the plan for Anselmino's development will include being integrated into Maresca's first-team.
As such, it looks as though Chelsea have already secured their Fofana replacement with Levi Colwill, Axel Disasi and Tosin Adarabioyo to be supported by the 19-year-old.
