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Chelsea have been plunged into a potential defensive injury crisis with Trevoh Chalobah being forced off against AC Milan on Sunday. The 26-year-old limped out of the Blues' 4-1 win at Stamford Bridge just days after a fellow academy graduate suffered a serious injury. Levi Colwill sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury upon the club's return to training this week. The Chelsea defender will miss the majority of the 2025/26 season, having already undergone surgery on the knee injury. Blues boss Enzo Maresca is now hoping his options at centre-back haven't depleted further following Chalobah's fresh issue. The Englishman went down after a collision and was unable to continue in the 57th minute despite receiving treatment. Chalobah was spotted limping around to the bench after he was replaced by 19-year-old Josh Acheampong. It leaves the Blues in something of a defensive crisis, with injury-prone Wesley Fofana without any pre-season action thus far. New signing Jorrel Hato, Benoit Badiashile - who was not named in the squad to face Milan - and teenager Acheampong may be needed to partner Tosin Adarabioyo for Chelsea's Premier League opener against Crystal Palace. Following Colwill's injury, manager Maresca admitted his side will reluctantly enter the transfer market for a centre-back. After the 2-0 pre-season win over Bayer Leverkusen on Friday, he told Channel 5: "It is a priority [signing a new defender] for me. "Levi is a fantastic player. What we achieved last season is because of him. He played a lot of games with me, I love him. We are going to miss him. We are also trying to find different solutions. " Colwill played 35 times in the league last term as his side finished fourth to secure Champions League qualification. In dealing with his absence, Renato Veiga, who can play centre-back, remains available for sale and is training away from the first-team. Similarly, Axel Disasi, who has also returned to the club after a loan at Aston Villa, is another defender currently part of their 'bomb squad'. Chelsea, meanwhile, have continued to target attackers for the end of the summer, having already made seven signings this summer. Joao Pedro, Liam Delap, Jami Gittens and Estevao Willian are the attackers who have walked through the door at Chelsea during this window. Chelsea have opened initial talks to sign Alejandro Garnacho from Manchester United. Garnacho is a left-wing target, and the deal is separate from the club's ongoing pursuit of Leipzig's Xavi Simons. The Argentine winger is keen on a move to Stamford Bridge, while Chelsea want another left-sided reinforcement. They chose not to buy Jadon Sancho, overriding an obligation of up to £25million by paying a £5m penalty to Manchester United. And with Mykhailo Mudryk unavailable after being charged by the FA for an anti-doping violation, and Sporting winger Geovany Quenda not arriving until summer 2026, the Blues believe another winger is needed. talk SPORT understands Chelsea value Garnacho at around £30m and have left talks until late in the window, working under the impression the price for the 21-year-old Argentine will drop. © 2025 talk SPORT Limited

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