Chelsea shortlist two names as Maresca keen to strengthen one key area

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca eyeing defensive reinforcements in January

Chelsea could well find themselves in the market to improve their defensive unit over the coming transfer windows.

The Blues have enjoyed a strong start to the 2024/25 Premier League season under new boss Enzo Maresca. Despite dropping points in the 1-1 draw with London rivals Arsenal at Stamford Bridge last weekend, they remained third in the table.

With the winter transfer window coming into view, the Pensioners will be wondering if they can improve the squad once again. Enzo Maresca was backed to the hilt during his first transfer window as Chelsea head coach and he spent big on the likes of Pedro Neto and Joao Felix.

Despite snapping up Tosin Adarabioyo on a free transfer from bitter west London rivals Fulham in the summer, Maresca’s side haven’t looked convincing defensively in many games. As a result, they keep conceding goals in tight situations and drop valuable points in the league.

Levi Colwill and Wesley Fofana have shown signs of forging a strong partnership in central defence but it is going to take some time. Beyond them, the Blues have French duo Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile, who are supposedly not in Maresca’s plans. Thus, the Italian tactician is seeking defensive reinforcements in January.

According to an exclusive report from FootballTransfers, Chelsea have come up with a defensive shortlist that includes SL Benfica’s Tomas Araujo and Bournemouth’s Illia Zabarnyi. The west Londoners want to pump fresh blood into their backline and their chiefs remain big admirers of both the central defenders.

Tomas Araujo is rapidly evolving into one of the most fantastic defensive prospects in Portuguese football, and since making his first team debut back in 2021, the Portuguese has gained solid experience in the top tier. The 22-year-old was linked with a move to Stamford Bridge in the summer but the club opted against signing him due to his eyewatering €100 million release clause.

As for Illia Zabarnyi, he has managed to grab the eyeballs of the Chelsea hierarchy with a series of impressive displays for Bournemouth. As the Bournemouth chiefs were wary of the defender’s stock rising in the future, they tied him down to a new contract in the summer that runs until June 30, 2029 (Transfermarkt).

However, Chelsea’s interest in Zabarnyi hasn’t waned and now remain in pole position to sign him, with Maresca an admirer. The Ukrainian international has gained a decent amount of experience in the Premier League and is expected to cost a lot less than the €100 million-rated Araujo.

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Both are 22, but when comparing their style of play, adaptability, top-flight experience and cost of potential deals, signing Zabarnyi would make sense for the Pensioners. Nonetheless, the Ukrainian’s long-term contract at the Vitality Stadium means Chelsea have to splurge big to persuade the Cherries into selling their star defender in January.