Chelsea are struggling at the moment. There is no doubt about that. For a little while, it had looked like the Blues were on an upward trajectory and ready to challenge for titles. But their recent run of form has underlined what most always knew. This is a young squad that is not capable of performing on a consistent basis.
Yes, they do have their days. The wins over Barcelona and Liverpool cannot be discounted. But then, time and again, they lose games they should be winning and are in complete control of.
This weekend's matchup against Aston Villa was a prime example of that. The visitors were nowhere to be found for the first hour and it seemed like the Blues were cruising to victory. But they had not found the second goal to have a cushion, and when Unai Emery's team found their rhythm, Enzo Maresca's side lost control of the contest and ended up conceding twice.
The defence has been an area of concern since Levi Colwill got injured. Without him, they do not seem to have someone with world-class potential who is able to defend when the going gets tough. The likes of Trevoh Chalobah and Benoit Badiashile look decent enough when the Blues are in control of matches. But when the opposition starts putting on some pressure, they are rarely good enough to dig deep and hold onto a lead.
Chelsea now want one of Premier League's best centre-backs
Chelsea need a quality centre-back. Maresca had asked for one in the summer and the club did not listen. The results are in front of us. With Manchester United on the rise, the Blues might miss out on Champions League qualification. If so, it would be the third time in four years since the new ownership. Is this the new norm for the club?
Fortunately, there is some positive news as well, as it looks like the club have their eyes on a quality centre-back. He is also wanted by some of the best in the world though, including Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.
As reported by Football Insider, Chelsea have turned their attention to signing Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi. The club are keen to recruit an A-list centre-back who can slot straight into their starting XI.
One can only wonder why Chelsea did not push to sign Guehi in the summer. If he does end up becoming available as a free agent, we are not convinced that the Blues will be able to present him with an offer to tempt him into joining his former club over the likes of Liverpool, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and others.