Chelsea had their fair share of injury troubles last season, with the defence being one of the areas that struggled at times. Wesley Fofana was sidelined for the majority of the season for the third-straight time. The Blues' captain, Reece James, was also available for just about half of the games. The club even had to recall Trevoh Chalobah midway through his loan spell at Crystal Palace to help deal with the situation.
Both Chelsea and their fans were hopeful that the worst was behind them, with injured players gradually returning to the pitch. However, as reported earlier, Levi Colwill has unfortunately suffered an ACL injury during pre-season training recently and is expected to miss nearly the entire 2025–26 season.
This is a major blow for the club, who might find themselves scrambling to find a suitable replacement before the transfer window shuts close. But it won't be easy replacing someone as good as Colwill.
Chelsea might have already identified some candidates for the spot, but could the solution be lying right under their noses? Well, there might be if the Blues decide to keep one of the players they've been looking to part ways with recently.
Should Chelsea keep Renato Veiga as a replacement for Levi Colwill?
Chelsea’s decision to look to part ways with Veiga was questionable to begin with. The Portuguese player appeared in 18 matches last season for the Blues and was impressive whenever given a chance. He left the club on loan in the second half of the campaign in search of more regular minutes, which he found at Juventus, having secured a starting spot at the Serie A club. Moreover, the 22-year-old has recently been part of Portugal’s national team as well.
So, there’s little doubt about the player’s qualities and no shortage of potential suitors either. Atletico Madrid came close to signing him but ultimately opted for David Hancko instead. Perhaps the collapse of that deal was a blessing in disguise.
Chelsea would love to sign a player with Veiga’s profile yet they are ignoring the solution that is right in the palm of their hands. As of now, the club are reportedly still looking to find a new home for the Portuguese international, despite Colwill's injury. That feels like a very short-sighted decision. There are far worse centre-backs at Stamford Bridge right now, who are likely to see playing time this season.