Chelsea have been dealt a huge blow in their bid to resurrect their faltering form after head coach Enzo Maresca admitted centre-back Wesley Fofana could miss the rest of the season.
The 24-year-old has not played since being substituted in the second half of last month’s 3-0 win over Aston Villa.
Maresca was unable to say whether the tear to his hamstring will require surgery but nevertheless it is a damaging blow to a player that missed the entirety of last season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
“Unfortunately he could be out for the season,” said the head coach. “We don’t know exactly for the entire season but for sure he could be out for part of it.”
It was initially hoped that Fofana, who had formed an impressive partnership in central defence alongside Levi Colwill this season, would be out for no more than a few weeks.
That assessment was made in the days following victory against Villa at Stamford Bridge on December 1, but further tests and analysis appear to have condemned the France international to yet another season severely curtailed by injury.
He made only 15 Premier League appearances in 2022-23, his first season after joining from Leicester in a £75million deal, while his time at the King Power Stadium was also disrupted by fitness issues.
His loss is further compounded by the ongoing absence of Benoit Badiashile, who replaced Fofana against Villa and played in the 4-3 win against Tottenham on December 8 but is expected to be out until February.
Chelsea could be without Wesley Fofana for the rest of the season
“Every time you ask me about Wes I said many times I am in love with Wes, because he is that kind of defender that gives you the chance to press and be aggressive and to leave in one vs one with (Ollie) Watkins,” said Maresca.
“We did exactly the same when Wes was injured with Benoit, one vs one with (Dominic) Solanke and [both defenders] can deal with that. It’s very difficult to find that kind of defender. Now both are injured and we are trying to find different solutions.
Fofana has missed seven league games so far
“For sure, Wes is a huge loss.
“I don’t think this kind of injury can be compared to the rest. This one is muscle and previously he hasn’t had any muscle problems, so it’s completely different. It’s a bit unlucky, but he will be back and he will be good in the way he was before he was injured.”
Maresca is also set to be without Romeo Lavia for Saturday’s trip to Crystal Palace, the midfielder’s absence so far having coincided with a loss of form that has dropped Chelsea from second to fourth, though captain Reece James could start for the first time since November.
Fofana missed the entirety of the festive period
“Football is all about players,” said Maresca. “We can have the best ideas but if you don’t have the players, you struggle.
“Romeo for us is a top player and for sure with him we are a better team. We’ve won games without him and we’ve lost games with him but for sure we are better with him.
“We’re also a better team with Reece James. It’s all about players. I can give them the tools how to behave but if they’re not good enough we’re not going to win.”
Chelsea January transfer window plans
Chelsea have the unresolved issue of a new striker left over from the summer. They pursued Victor Osimhen right to the deadline but no deal materialised and he is now on loan at Galatasaray.
Since then they could hardly have asked for a better start to the season or for better form from Nicolas Jackson, who has been excellent as the central striker. It may be that this has changed the thinking as to what kind of new striker they need.
Ipswich’s impressive hitman Liam Delap is known to Chelsea head of recruitment Joe Shields and head coach Maresca from their time together in Manchester City’s academy and a number of bigger clubs like what they have seen from Delap so far this term.
Chelsea are not expected to do much else unless other players leave and one who is certain to do so is Ben Chilwell after being frozen out of the squad. Carney Chukwuemeka is another, while there is also speculation around Christopher Nkunku and Axel Disasi.
Read Chelsea’s transfer window plans in full here
