Enzo Maresca has suggested Chelsea might explore the January transfer market to bolster their defensive options following injuries to Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile.

Speaking after the Blues’ 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace, Maresca admitted that the club would assess their options, especially with two of their key defenders sidelined.

Fofana, who suffered a serious knee injury earlier in the season, is likely to miss the remainder of the campaign, while Badiashile faces at least another month on the sidelines.

Maresca acknowledged the contributions of academy talent Josh Acheampong, who has stepped up impressively in recent weeks. “Even if we don’t decide to buy players, or sell players; we already knew Josh [Acheampong] was good enough,” he said during the press conference.

The Chelsea manager also noted the urgency of the situation, leaving the door open for a potential move in January. “But with Benoit and Wesley’s injuries, we will see if something can happen,” Maresca added.

To provide immediate cover, the Blues have already recalled Aaron Anselmino from his loan spell. Meanwhile, Acheampong’s solid performance as a centre-back in the Premier League has been a silver lining for the club during this challenging period.