Enzo Maresca has made it clear he wants Chelsea to sign a new centre-back after losing Levi Colwill to injury. “Levi was a big player for us last season,” said Maresca. “Levi was a huge part of our build-up. Now he is out, and we are going to try to find a different solution.

Chelsea are weighing up their options to address a defensive gap after centre back Levi Colwill suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, manager Enzo Maresca said ahead of their opening Premier League match against Crystal Palace on Sunday.

If anyone needs a reminder of just how dizzyingly — and, at times, brutally — fast football moves, consider that less than two weeks ago, Levi Colwill was talking about competing for the Premier League title with Chelsea this season, and how he felt about an impending Champions League debut at his boyhood club.