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Chelsea has been urged to pursue Marc Guehi, one of Liverpool's main transfer targets, as the solution to the team's central defensive woes.
The Blues were dealt a blow upon returning for preseason with news that key defender Levi Colwill would be sidelined for most of the campaign with a serious knee injury, leaving Enzo Maresca with limited options at his disposal.
Former Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood believes Chelsea academy graduate Guehi would be perfectly positioned for a return to Stamford Bridge. The Crystal Palace defender has just one year left on his deal at Selhurst Park, with Liverpool keen to secure the England international's services for around £35 million ($47.2 million).
Guehi won't be available on the cheap despite his contractual circumstances, as the Eagles and Liverpool remain at odds over the player's valuation. The Reds have the option of biding their time until next summer, potentially allowing Chelsea to capitalize.
However, Maresca has been advised to utilize existing squad members despite openly acknowledging the team's need for reinforcement following Colwill's absence. In the clash against Crystal Palace, with Tosin Adarabioyo also ruled out through injury, 19-year-old Josh Acheampong partnered Trevoh Chalobah at the heart of the defence.
Speaking last week, the former Manchester City coach acknowledged his desire for a new center-back whilst indicating the club would explore internal alternatives. Maresca commented: "I think we need a central defender. We are looking for an internal solution, but as I said, the club know exactly what I think."
Sherwood believes Chelsea should move quickly and that Palace cannot afford to let its skipper leave without a fee. "Marc Guehi is the obvious choice for Chelsea to replace Levi Colwill at center-back," Sherwood told BetBrain.
"He's a player that will hit the ground running at Chelsea, having already played in the Premier League for a few years and to a very high standard. They can risk waiting until next season when his contract at Crystal Palace expires, but there'll be a queue to sign him, without doubt.
"It looks like both Liverpool and Chelsea have turned Guehi's head away from Palace. Ibrahima Konate is out of contract next season for Liverpool, and while Guehi might not start ahead of him or Virgil van Dijk, he'd be a solid replacement if either left the club. Even if Konate stayed, the best teams in the league have high-quality cover in every position, and Guehi would fit that bill.
"My feeling is Steve Parish will want to try and keep hold of Guehi for as long as possible, but Palace know they can't allow him to leave for free – it'd be a huge loss."
Maresca has highlighted his wish to find a replacement for Colwill's qualities within the squad. The Italian manager feels he lacks alternatives who can mirror the defender's characteristics.
"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. 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 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."
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