Chelsea Identify Four Potential Replacements for Injured Cole Palmer

According to Football.London, Chelsea’s growing injury concerns have once again forced Enzo Maresca into a tactical rethink as his side braces for a pivotal stretch of the Premier League season without one of their brightest stars. 

Cole Palmer, the 23-year-old attacking midfielder who has been at the heart of Chelsea’s creative spark, is now set to miss the rest of the month due to a persistent groin injury — leaving the Blues short of inspiration in the final third and Maresca short of options.

Palmer’s absence is a crushing blow for a Chelsea side already battling inconsistency and injury woes.

The England international, who has made just four appearances this term, has been struggling to shake off the recurring issue since limping off in the 2-1 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford last month.

Now, with at least four matches to come without him — including crucial clashes against Nottingham Forest, Ajax, Sunderland, and Wolves — Maresca must find new solutions fast.

“Cole Palmer is set to miss the remainder of the month with his ongoing battle against a groin injury,” reported Football.London. “Palmer is expected to miss at least four matches for the Blues, with the club anticipating the England international to be out for weeks, rather than months.”

Fortunately for Chelsea, there are emerging options — four, in fact — that could step up to fill the void. Chief among them is Estevao Willian, the 18-year-old Brazilian sensation who has captured the imagination of fans and pundits alike.

Fresh off a dramatic winning goal against Liverpool, Estevao has shown glimpses of elite potential, and his adaptability makes him a genuine contender for the No.10 role.

“Estevao reminds me a lot of Cole when Cole was with me in the Under-23s at [Manchester] City,” Maresca admitted. “Cole’s path has been similar to Estevao’s path in terms of starting wide as a winger and then slowly you can move inside.”

The teenager’s flair, confidence, and creativity have made him the talk of Stamford Bridge. And while Maresca has preached caution with young players, the opportunity may now come sooner than expected.

Another solution could come from within the midfield. Enzo Fernandez, who has occasionally pushed forward into attacking areas, might be repositioned higher up the pitch — provided Romeo Lavia returns to bolster the central midfield.

There’s also Joao Pedro, who could fill Palmer’s creative gap but may be required to lead the line as Chelsea’s No.9 given the shortage of strikers. Meanwhile, Facundo Buonanotte, a technical and agile attacker on loan, represents the most natural like-for-like replacement stylistically, though he’s featured sparingly since joining in the summer.