Chelsea hopes to sign a centre defender in 2026 (Photo courtesy of Julian Finney/Getty Images)
It is no secret that Chelsea struggled defensively in the opening weeks of the season, and Levi Colwill’s absence has been a major hit for Chelsea. This is why Enzo Maresca is working to acquire new centre-back players, which is particularly concerning.
Currently, Chelsea have defensive center options such as Trevor Charobar, Wesley Fofana, Tosin Adarabioyo, Beniot Badiacile and Josh Atianpon, but most of them are not considered reliable. Therefore, goals have been formulated for 2026, one of them is Nico Schlotterbeck, who had previously attracted attention from Liverpool.
Chelsea considers Nico Schlotterbeck’s move in 2026
Mick Brown told Football Insider that Chelsea has been interested in Borussia Dortmund defender Schlotterbeck, who could potentially be able to win a price reduction next summer as his contract expires in 2027.
“Schlotterbeck is a player I’ve seen quite a bit. At first I had some concerns about his lack of pace, but he’s gotten better and better and he’s become a very capable defender. He’s a dominant centre-back, a regular for the German national team, a very defensive option that likes to win tackles, win headers and take charge of the final line.”
“I heard that Chelsea is paying attention to him, so I think he’s exactly the type of player that Chelsea needs. They need to improve defensively, because the options are not enough right now. It’s tough, but I think that’s already proven this season.”
“He’s certainly a player who will improve the team’s capabilities at the moment, and Dortmund should not want to lose him, so it may not be easy to acquire him, but it seems they see him as a player who can improve his team’s defense. If they do the job and get the right evaluation, it’s clear that they’ll move to him.”
It remains to be seen whether Schlotterbeck is a serious player to sign, but given that he is the same centre defender on the left side as Colwill, he may not be much suited to the rest.
