Enzo Maresca Teases January Transfers for Chelsea After Crystal Palace Draw

Defensive Injuries Force Chelsea to Look to the Market

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has hinted at potential January reinforcements following his side’s 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace on Saturday.

The Blues have now gone four games without a win, with draws against Everton and Crystal Palace sandwiching defeats to Fulham and Ipswich Town. This slump in form has coincided with a series of injuries that have ravaged Chelsea’s defensive line.

Defensive Crisis Hits Hard

While club captain Reece James has recently returned to the squad—though he is yet to feature since November—Chelsea received confirmation that centre-back Wesley Fofana will miss most, if not all, of the season due to a hamstring injury.

Fellow defender Benoit Badiashile remains sidelined until next month, leaving Maresca with limited options. Speaking after Saturday’s draw, the Italian coach admitted:
“Probably with Wes and Benoit injuries, we will see if something is going to happen.”

Early Recall for Aaron Anselmino

In response to their defensive woes, Chelsea ended Aaron Anselmino’s loan at Boca Juniors, bringing the 19-year-old Argentine centre-back back to Stamford Bridge six months earlier than planned. However, Maresca urged caution, emphasizing the need to manage the teenager’s transition into first-team football carefully.

Room for New Signings?

With versatile defender Renato Veiga potentially heading to Serie A, Chelsea may free up room in the budget for a much-needed defensive signing.

A Bright Spark: Josh Acheampong

Despite the draw, Maresca found reasons for optimism in the performance of 18-year-old right-back Josh Acheampong, who made his first Premier League start. The youngster earned high praise from his manager, who said:
“Josh Acheampong was fantastic for us. We really trust Josh, and it’s just a matter of the right path for him, but he will be an important player for the club.”

Chelsea’s January Plans

With injuries mounting and defensive gaps to fill, all eyes are on Chelsea’s activity in the January transfer window. Stay updated with all the latest transfer news and Chelsea coverage on Hattrickx.com.