Enzo Maresca identifies THREE Chelsea 'untouchables'

Cameron Smith

10 Jan 2025 04:45 CST
3 min read

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca reportedly views Wesley Fofana as one of the “untouchables” in his current first-team squad.

The France international suffered a hamstring injury against Aston Villa in early December and Maresca has hinted that he could miss the rest of the 2024-25 season as a result of the issue.

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Chelsea are now contemplating a January move for a new centre-back, with recalling Trevoh Chalobah from his loan spell at Crystal Palace under consideration by the Stamford Bridge hierarchy.

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Marc Guehi is also being monitored as a potential transfer target, although it remains to be seen if Palace will still demand a fee around the €90 million mark and if Chelsea are willing to pay a bloated fee to land him in January.

However, Guehi’s possible arrival is unlikely to result in Fofana losing his place in Maresca’s preferred starting XI when fully fit.

That is according to The Telegraph’s Matt Law, who has revealed that Fofana is one of three “untouchables” at Chelsea.

What has been said?

“Fofana’s [injury is] a huge blow,” Law told the London is Blue Podcast (via The Chelsea Chronicle). “I know for a fact that Enzo [Maresca] has some untouchables in that team, obviously [Levi] Colwill being the biggest one.”

Colwill has been heavily linked with a move to Liverpool over the past few years, but Chelsea fought off significant interest in his signature to tie him down to long-term contract in August 2023.

Law continued: “[Moises] Caicedo is certainly one of them and Fofana is one of them. He rates Fofana as one of the best defenders, particularly in his system, in the entire country.”

Cole Palmer wasn’t mentioned as an “untouchable” at Chelsea, although he is tied down to a deal that runs until 2033 and rumours of a €200m move to Paris Saint-Germain are likely wide of the mark.

Nicolas Jackson and Josh Acheampong are also expected to remain at Chelsea for the foreseeable future, in addition to both Kendry Paez and Estevao Willian.