Ben Chilwell is going to need that surgery after all. Briefly, it looked as though he just might be okay to make a surprise return in January, but Chelsea can only be so lucky. Chilwell’s surgery will keep him out for the remainder of the season as the Blues prepare contingencies.
The form of the team since Chilwell’s injury provokes action. Marcos Alonso hasn’t been in his early season form and results have been slogs since that Juventus game where Chilwell went down. Alonso, who will have just a year left on his contract at the end of the season, cannot hold the line alone.
But, it is important to consider all options here. Ben Chilwell’s season ending injury shouldn’t provoke Chelsea into a panic. This is a short term problem that doesn’t require a long term solution.
The immediate reaction would be to go out and sign a player, but there are a few issues with that. First of all, that would be the long term solution to a short term problem already mentioned. Chilwell will come back and with his age and ability, he’s the starter for some time to come. Signing any player would have to be with that in mind, which makes it very hard to find a player willing to come to eventually play second fiddle. But that is only the start of an issue with a signing.
Chelsea has struggled to offload players for some time now and Covid did not make it easier. Marcos Alonso is surely a candidate to be sold in the summer as his deal runs short, but the Blues can’t guarantee anyone will buy him just like they couldn’t guarantee it for Ross Barkley or Ruben Loftus-Cheek. A new signing would just further burden Chelsea with players they can’t get rid of.
Then there is the case of Ian Maatsen. The Dutchman is currently on loan at Coventry City as they surprisingly are making a push for promotion. Maatsen has been crucial to that push and many have earmarked him for a future at Chelsea. He may need another loan in between, but Chilwell’s injury may force the Blues’ hand. They won’t want to sign a player that will push Maatsen away, especially if that player won’t be a starter when Chilwell returns.
Largely, the Blues have one of three options here. Option one is to play players already at the club. This would include seeing the likes of Christian Pulisic and Callum Hudson-Odoi at wingback when Alonso can’t play. Ideal? No. Workable. Probably.
Option two is recall Maatsen or even Emerson, if possible. That wouldn’t displace Alonso from the starting XI, but it would give Thomas Tuchel more natural options to rest the Spaniard. Maatsen would have to be ready for the step up to Premier League which, as a deputy surrounded by better players than Coventry has, should be no issue. Emerson would also come in as a deputy. After all, there is a reason he is the one on loan while Alonso stayed around. That would be the safer option for the club, but it would also dig into the shop window Emerson is currently sitting in.
Option three is a more recent option and the best of all worlds: Lucas Digne on loan with an option to buy. Digne has had some massive falling out with Rafa Benitez at Everton, leading the club to start shopping the player out. A loan would still check the box of a short term solution to a short term problem and, so long as he stayed fit, the Blues will arguably have a starter over Alonso. The option to buy allows Chelsea to be flexible coming into the summer. There is a buyer for Alonso? Maatsen needs a Premier League loan? Chilwell isn’t quite ready to go again? Then you can buy Digne. Anything else and he can be thanked for his time on loan as he goes back to Everton.
The main thing is to not panic in January. Chilwell’s injury, though season ending, is a relatively short term issue. Things like Covid or minor injuries that always ramp up during the winter are also short term issues. Permanent signings are long term solutions that only cause more issues later in this context. Digne would be the best of all worlds, but how legitimate is the rumor? And if it isn’t, does Chelsea even have the ability to recall Emerson and Maatsen?