Enzo Maresca has revealed that Chelsea defender Benoit Badiashile is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a suspected hamstring injury.
The centre-back has missed the last three games against Astana, Brentford and Shamrock Rovers and, asked about the player’s fitness in his pre-match conference ahead of the Everton game this weekend, Maresca said he would be “out for a long period”.
Badiashile does have a history of hamstring problems which trace back to his time with Monaco and this latest setback will be a major disappointment for the 23-year-old.
He had been getting more opportunities in recent weeks, having started two of the last four Premier League games prior to his injury.
Who could fill in for Badiashile?
Tosin Adarabioyo started against Brentford in Badiashile’s absence last weekend and he is expected to keep his place for the match at Goodison Park on Sunday.
Levi Colwill, Adarabioyo, Axel Disasi and Renato Veiga are the centre-halves that are still available to the manager.
Chelsea could now step up their plans to sign a new defender
It has been reported for several weeks that the Blues are planning to recruit another centre-back in January, and Badiashile’s injury is likely to accelerate those negotiations.
Tomas Araujo was believed to be one of the club’s top targets, after they tried to sign him before the summer transfer window closed, but the Portuguese defender has recently signed a new deal with Benfica. RB Leipzig’s Castello Lukeba and Bournemouth’s Ilya Zabarnyi are other candidates that the recruitment team may consider, with both players having been scouted previously.
