According to reports, Chelsea creates a three-man defensive shortlist before the January window.

Chelsea are reportedly looking to strengthen their centre-back options with a three-man shortlist that includes Marc Guehi, Tomas Araujo, and Illia Zabarnyi. Under the management of Enzo Maresca, Chelsea have made a strong start to the season, sitting second in the Premier League, just two points behind leaders Liverpool. Their solid start comes after two inconsistent seasons, where they finished 12th and 6th, respectively.

Marc Guehi, a former Chelsea player, has been a standout performer for Crystal Palace since his 2021 departure. The 24-year-old has made 131 appearances for the Eagles and is a regular for the England national team with 22 caps.

Tomas Araujo, a 22-year-old defender at Benfica, has impressed many with his performances at the Portuguese club. Araujo has made 42 appearances for Benfica and earned his first cap for Portugal.

Illia Zabarnyi, another 22-year-old, has been a key figure for Bournemouth since his arrival from Dynamo Kyiv in 2023. Zabarnyi has made 63 appearances for the Cherries and has earned 45 caps for Ukraine.

While all three defenders are being monitored, Araujo is said to be Chelsea’s number one target for their defensive reinforcements.

In addition, former manager Sam Allardyce has weighed in on Chelsea’s title prospects, suggesting that the team could compete for the Premier League title if they had a clinical striker like Erling Haaland. Allardyce praised Chelsea’s attacking play under Maresca, noting their ability to create numerous chances but pointed out that their lack of a prolific finisher has been a limiting factor in their pursuit of silverware. He also mentioned that Chelsea’s defense could still be a weak spot, despite their promising form.

Chelsea’s offensive power, having scored the most goals in the league (37), paired with potential defensive reinforcements, could put them in a strong position to challenge for the title.