Chelsea handed huge fitness blow before Mauricio Pochettino arrival

Mauricio Pochettino's hopes of getting a closer look at Chelsea centre-back Benoit Badiashile during pre-season have been dashed by a groin injury which will see the Frenchman undergo surgery.

Badiashile has impressed since his January move from Monaco but missed this weekend's defeat to Manchester City because of the injury.

The Evening Standard now state that Badiashile's issue is worse than first feared and the 22-year-old will need to go under the knife to repair the problem, which could keep him sidelined for the next four months.

With Badiashile set to miss pre-season and perhaps even the beginning of the upcoming campaign, Pochettino will have to focus his attention on Chelsea's other defenders when he takes charge of training during the summer.

Among those looking to impress the boss will be returning loanee Levi Colwill, whose strongest position is the same left-sided centre-back spot in which Badiashile impressed over the past few months.

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90min understands that Colwill was told of Chelsea's plans to involve him in pre-season well before Badiashile went down injured and the 20-year-old's importance to the team will only have grown since.

The likes of Liverpool and Manchester City have long been tracking Colwill, who has excelled during his loan with Brighton, but 90min revealed back in March that Chelsea are not entertaining the idea of selling one of the game's most highly rated defenders.

Colwill is believed to be keen to work under Pochettino, whose desire to keep the academy graduate around was made clear early in his negotiations with Chelsea officials.

Pochettino has agreed to become Chelsea manager but will not formally take charge until the end of the season, with the Blues still to face both Manchester United and Newcastle as they bring an end to their bitterly disappointing campaign.

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