Chelsea Eyes Four Defensive Stars as Potential Levi Colwill Replacements
While Levi Colwill faces a significant knee injury that may sideline him for the entire 2025–26 campaign, Chelsea fans might question Enzo Maresca's assertion that the club needs to acquire another center-back this summer.
The Italian manager has openly expressed his intention to bring in a replacement, despite Jorrel Hato—who appears ready to fill the void—arriving from Ajax this month, and Josh Acheampong showing promise to develop into a standout player.
Reports suggest Chelsea won't rush into hasty decisions during the transfer window's closing weeks, though Colwill's unavailability was clearly felt during the season opener as the Blues found it difficult to break down Crystal Palace's organized defensive setup.
"You understand Levi's significance last season, considering our playing style," Maresca commented ahead of Sunday's draw. Their lackluster display at Stamford Bridge likely strengthened his conviction that Chelsea must address the loss of Colwill's distribution skills from the back.
Considering this situation, here are four defensive options the Blues might pursue to fill the void left by the sidelined England defender.
Piero Hincapié
With Hato's arrival, Chelsea have secured a defender who can cover Colwill's position and potentially Marc Cucurella's duties, though Maresca expects significant attacking contributions from the Spanish player.
Bayer Leverkusen's Hincapié presents an intriguing option for the Chelsea manager, as the Ecuador international has experience operating in a three-man defense and as a left-back in a four-man setup.
The South American brings a distinctive profile, combining natural intensity with an eagerness to advance the ball whenever he gains possession. While Maresca hasn't previously encouraged his center-backs to drive forward with the ball, his approach may be evolving following Colwill's setback.
Acheampong, making his third Premier League appearance at the weekend, registered a competition-leading 33 carries in the opening gameweek. Should Maresca be promoting this tactical shift—from distribution to ball-carrying—then Hincapié represents an outstanding market opportunity. The commanding Ecuadorian sits in the 95th percentile among all center-backs across Europe's elite leagues with 1.65 progressive carries per 90 minutes, according to FBRef. He also contributes 4.81 progressive passes per 90, placing him in the 84th percentile among center-backs.
Youthful, unrefined, yet energetic and promising, Leverkusen have little incentive to sell unless presented with a substantial offer, with reports indicating Tottenham Hotspur are pursuing the 23-year-old once more.
Castello Lukeba
Lukeba's attraction to Premier League clubs comes as no surprise, with Manchester City reportedly among those monitoring the French defender. The RB Leipzig talent ranks among Europe's finest young defensive prospects.
Lukeba excels physically while demonstrating exceptional technical ability on the ball. He shows conviction in his passing, though perhaps lacks Colwill's penetrative distribution. The Leipzig player particularly shines when advancing with possession, displaying elegance during his forward runs.
Generally, Lukeba suits the possession-based role Colwill occupies, even if his interpretation differs slightly. He's more adventurous than the England international, showing greater willingness to link up in advanced positions and influence the final third.
Defensively, Lukeba's pace and mobility allow him to excel in an aggressive backline structure. Nevertheless, Chelsea would probably need to abandon other attacking targets to fund such a transfer.
Giorgio Scalvini
Not long ago, Scalvini was hailed as Italian football's emerging star, but a challenging 18-month period filled with injuries has somewhat diminished attention around the adaptable Atalanta defender. Current discussions center more on Giovanni Leoni.
Scalvini had shoulder surgery early in 2025, having recently recovered from an ACL injury the previous summer that unfortunately prevented his Euro 2024 participation. Therefore, 2025–26 represents a crucial season for the 21-year-old, and perhaps remaining in Bergamo provides the stability needed for his rehabilitation and development.
The Italian hasn't produced Colwill-level statistics early in his professional career, but he maintains over five progressive passes per 90 throughout his Serie A tenure, earning recognition for his solid defensive basics and versatility across multiple positions. He can even operate in midfield effectively.
Scalvini's physical attributes stand out, with Premier League demands unlikely to overwhelm the young defender who retains potential to become world-class. However, clubs may prefer observing his 2025–26 performance before committing significant resources.
Jan Paul van Hecke
When uncertain, look toward the Seagulls. Chelsea have frequently approached Brighton and Hove Albion since BlueCo's ownership began.
Players, coaches, and administrative personnel have all transferred from the south coast to west London recently, with both clubs apparently maintaining excellent relations. Consequently, if Chelsea eventually fulfill Maresca's desire for a Colwill replacement, they might contact their familiar associate Tony Bloom.
Which player could they attract from Brighton's roster this time? Lewis Dunk's age is prohibitive, Olivier Boscagli recently arrived, Igor Julio and Adam Webster likely don't meet requirements, but what about Jan Paul van Hecke?
Few Premier League players surpass the Dutch defender's passing ability, ranking in the top 2% of all center-backs from Europe's major leagues with 7.03 progressive passes per 90 over the past year. He continued this form in the new season's opening gameweek, recording a match-high 13 line-breaking passes and 44 forward passes during Brighton's 1–1 stalemate with Fulham.
The primary concern is that he essentially fulfills Colwill's function from the opposite flank. He's unlikely to maintain such effectiveness from the left side, though Maresca could modify his possession-based tactics.