Enzo Maresca’s dream 2026 signing is so obvious after being let down by Chelsea’s sporting directors

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Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca would not have been a completely satisfied man at the end of the summer transfer window.

The Blues failed to sign a replacement for the injured Liam Delap, deciding to recall Marc Guiu, who is still fairly inexperienced, instead.

Delap is not the only injury problem that Maresca has had to deal with, though. The Chelsea boss is also without Levi Colwill and will not have him back any time soon.

Bearing that in mind, Maresca would probably love for Chelsea to sign a central defender in the new year.

• READ MORE: What happened between Nicolas Jackson and Enzo Maresca before deadline day exit

Alessandro Bastoni would be a dream signing for Enzo Maresca

In the last transfer window, Chelsea were linked with Alessandro Bastoni following Colwill’s ACL injury.

In the end, though, the Club World Cup winners did not sign the Inter Milan star or any other centre-half, which would have disappointed Maresca.

According to one journalist, Maresca asked Chelsea to bring in a new centre-back, a request that fell on deaf ears.

Even before Colwill’s injury, there were already question marks over Chelsea’s defence. Wesley Fofana has not been able to stay fit, while Benoit Badiashile has also had his own fitness issues.

It is probably one reason why Chelsea were so keen on Dean Huijsen before his move to Real Madrid.

When you consider all of that, then, you can argue that co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley have let Maresca down. However, they can easily redeem themselves by making a move for Bastoni in 2026.

The Italian could be perfect for Chelsea, especially in the absence of Colwill. He is left-footed like the England international and has the ability to play in the central centre-back role, which has become so important to Maresca’s system.

Currently, Bastoni is making 5.46 progressive passes and 1.87 progressive carries per 90 minutes (via FBref), which are exceptional numbers for a defender. Ultimately, the 26-year-old is a modern-day, ball-playing centre-back.

Why Chelsea were so reluctant to sign a new central defender

From Chelsea’s point of view, replacing Colwill over the summer was an impossible task.

Chelsea did not like the centre-back market, feeling that an adequate replacement for Colwill was not available.

It means that Maresca will have to make do with his current options. But in the new year, the Conference League holders should be all over Bastoni, especially if Fofana and Badiashile pick up any more injury problems.