Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has spoken about his admiration for Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi amid rumours of the defender making a return to Stamford Bridge this month.

“The only thing I can say is Marc Guehi is a Palace player,” Maresca stated when asked about the speculation.

“I like Marc for sure, but he is not our player. But I like also the central defenders we have. I also like different types of central defenders in Italy, Spain, and France, but that doesn’t mean we are going to buy a player.”

Maresca addressed the rumours as part of the natural discussion surrounding Chelsea’s injury-hit defence. “It is a normal situation, I think, when you have central defenders injured that the speculation is there. At the same time, there is nothing there,” he concluded.

As Chelsea navigates their defensive challenges, Maresca’s comments suggest a measured approach rather than a rush into the transfer market.