Tosin Adarabioyo is expected to remain at beyond the January transfer deadline despite recent links to .

The Seagulls admire Adarabioyo, having tried to sign him during the summer. But Express Sport understands they have not acted on their interest since his move to Chelsea, and no contact has been made between the clubs or with the player's entourage this winter.

Chelsea's hierarchy and regard Adarabioyo as an important part of the squad. The 27-year-old primarily operates in the centre of a back-three, but with right-sided defender and left-sided Benoit Badiashile out injured, the Blues may need all hands on deck over the coming weeks.

Trevoh Chalobah and Aaron Anselmino have been recalled from loan spells at Crystal Palace and Boca Juniors respectively this winter. With Adarabioyo in line to stay, Axel Disasi is understood to be the centre-back most likely to leave Chelsea in order to make room for the pair.

Maresca is overseeing a time of change in his defensive ranks, with injuries and arrivals set to shake up the options he has available during the second part of the campaign. Academy graduate Josh Acheampong has also taken on increased responsibility.

If Chelsea were to be presented with a bid for Adarabioyo, it would leave club chiefs with a tough decision given the positive impact it could have on their PSR position. He would fetch an eight-figure fee and represent a tidy return after arriving as a free agent in June.

The Blues have previously shown a willingness to take a heavy-handed approach if a player is deemed surplus to requirements.

Before being loaned out to Palace, Chalobah was exiled to the 'bomb squad', made up of players who had been transfer listed and told they were not part of Maresca's first-team plans.

Adarabioyo's experience in the dressing room may be a commodity Maresca cannot afford to lose. The 6ft 5in defender boasts well over 200 career games, and he is the oldest Chelsea player to have played in the Premier League this term.

Earlier this month Maresca said: "Sometimes you have different kinds of leaders. Leaders that don't talk much but when they do the rest listen a lot.We have different kinds of characters. The one that is most vocal in the dressing room is Tosin. But they are different all of them."

Adarabioyo cut his teeth in Manchester City's academy and made eight senior appearances for the club. During his time at the Etihad Stadium he went on loan to West Bromwich Albion and Blackburn Rovers, before joining Fulham in 2020.