Former Chelsea star John Obi Mikel has raised concerns about the club’s defensive options, singling out Nigeria-eligible centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo as a weak point.

Adarabioyo joined Chelsea from Fulham and has been filling in for the injured Levi Colwill this season. While he has been praised by some for stepping up, Mikel believes he is not the long-term solution.

Speaking on his Obi One Podcast, Mikel questioned whether Tosin is good enough to lead the Blues’ defence as they aim to compete with the Premier League’s top sides for the title.

“I don’t believe Tosin is the guy to lead our defence. If Chelsea really want to compete for the Premier League, they need a top-class centre-back alongside Colwill.”

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"I don't believe Tosin is the guy to lead our defence."

Mikel Obi isn’t convinced Chelsea can win the league with this backline. pic.twitter.com/1ezGSevO8i

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“I don’t believe Tosin is the guy to lead our defence. If Chelsea really want to compete for the Premier League, they need a top-class centre-back alongside Colwill.”

“You look at Van Dijk and Konate, Dias and Stones, Gabriel and Saliba, they are strong partnerships. Chelsea need that spine if they want to challenge for the title,” he added.

Chelsea’s inconsistent start this season

Chelsea have taken eight points from their first five Premier League matches, with two wins, two draws, and a single defeat.

Their defensive vulnerabilities have been exposed multiple times, and Mikel believes this inconsistency will hold them back unless addressed, Sports Illustrated reports.

“Going forward, we are fantastic. We are creating chances, Cole Palmer has been brilliant,” Mikel said.

“But now he’s going to be out for a while, which makes it even more important that we stay strong defensively. The Premier League is a marathon, not a sprint.”