Chelsea have already officially signed a dream Fofana replacement

For all the credit that BlueCo deserve for adjusting their transfer strategy in the summer to welcome a much-needed blend of experience in between youthful exuberance, Chelsea have still been forced to endure one unsolved problem at centre-back.

The Blues have spent almost £2bn in the transfer market since the arrival of their American owners, but are currently without Champions League football and putting their trust in yet another new manager.

It has, so far, been a disastrous ownership and when desperately searching for where things have gone wrong, BlueCo can look directly towards their centre-back recruitment.

Chelsea’s problems stem from Wesley Fofana

Ask Mauricio Pochettino, Liam Rosenior, Enzo Maresca or Graham Potter and they’ll be quick to point out that they lacked a long-term defensive leader. Instead, they were forced to turn towards overpriced and under-performing signings like Wesley Fofana, who is now proving to be an issue for Xabi Alonso.

The 25-year-old arrived from Leicester City for as much as £70m in 2022. He was tipped to be the next best thing, but has stolen the headlines off the pitch more than he has done on it during the last four years.

The Frenchman’s injury issues haven’t helped. He missed five games last season which was somewhat refreshing, having missed 35 games in the campaign prior.

Fofana’s enforced absences have helped build the narrative about his unreliability, but so have performances. He was lucky to be spared against Manchester United, when his slip allowed Amad Diallo a shooting opportunity before Mike Penders intervened. He may not be so fortunate next time.

If Chelsea are to build a side capable of challenging for the Premier League title under Alonso, then they need stability and leadership within their backline.

REUTERS/David Klein

Fofana simply does not offer that and the most damning statistic of all is that his side have conceded 12 goals in the six games that he has started this season. He must not be the future of Chelsea’s defence.

Chelsea have already splashed out on Fofana replacement

Those at Stamford Bridge aren’t ones to wait around for a player to improve. They signed Maxence Lacroix in the summer in an attempt to replace Fofana, but is also yet to work out. So, it’s no surprise that the Blues have already got another impressive defender on the way.

It’s been clear for some time that Chelsea are a weakened, vulnerable side with Fofana on the pitch – conceding an average of two goals per game whenever he’s started this season – and that experiment can end when Honest Ahanor arrives.

REUTERS/David Klein

Dubbed a “future champion” by former Atalanta manager Rafaelle Palladino, Ahanor is considered one of the best young defenders in the world at just 18 years old.

The teenager could turn into a real coup after Chelsea secured his signature for around £40m during the summer, before loaning him to Crystal Palace for the season.

It’s there that some may be forgetting just how talented he is. That would be a major mistake. Whilst Ahanor is yet to break into Pierre Sage’s side, he was a rising star at Atalanta and broke into the Serie A team at just 17 years old.

Ahanor is everything that Chelsea thought they were getting with Fofana. He is brave in possession, strong in his duels, winning 76.5% of them this season, and even adds the boost of versatility with his availability at left-back as well as centre-back. The teenager is the full package.

Add on the fact that Ahanor has won 75% of his aerial duels so far this season, and it’s clear who the future of Chelsea’s backline should be. If the teenager reaches his full potential, then the Blues will finally have their biggest problem solved.