Enzo Maresca told Chelsea 'chequebook is closed' as Todd Boehly blocks transfer

Enzo Maresca has been told the ‘chequebook is closed’ by Chelsea, according to a fresh report.

Ahead of the Blues’ 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace on Sunday, Maresca emphasised the need for cover at centre-back in the wake of an ACL injury to Levi Colwill.

Maresca publicly insisted upon his desire for Chelsea’s owners to dip into the market and replace Colwill, despite the Blues having Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoit Badiashile and Josh Acheampong all able to step up.

When asked what he thought was the solution to replacing Colwill in his squad, Maresca said: "The club knows exactly what I think.

"I think we need a central defender. We are looking for an internal solution but as I said, the club knows exactly what I think."

Maresca’s comments come despite Chelsea having 10 defenders in his squad and nine who can play as centre backs, including Jorrel Hato, who arrived from Ajax last month.

And according to the Mail Online, Chelsea’s decision makers disagree with Maresca, and have essentially told him that he must find an internal solution. The chequebooker is said to be “closed for centrebacks”.

Against Crystal Palace, Josh Acheampong was selected at centre-back, and in the process became the second youngest player to start for Chelsea in their opening game of a Premier League season, after Glen Johnson in 2003-04.

Last week Maresca argued that Colwill’s presence is key tactically and that they needed to sign a replacement.

Levi Colwill is set to miss the majority of the 25/26 season. Image: Getty

"When we build, we build with Levi in the middle," said Maresca. "Last year we played 64 games and we played all 64 games with either Levi or Tosin [Adarabioyo in the middle].

"Now Levi is out. The only other one that he can do that job well is Tosin. But we have Premier League, Champions League, with these kind of players.

"The rest, they can adapt. [Jorrel] Hato is a new one, he never played as the guy in the middle last season [with Ajax], so it's not about being a central defender.

"Yes, [he is a] central defender but can he do that? It's different. Also we have players that unfortunately, like Wes [Fofana] or Benoit [Badiashile], they have in this moment some [injury] problems.

"The one in the middle in my way is so, so, so important. And this is the reason why I said that the club knows exactly what I think about central defenders."