Chelsea are opening talks to sign a £50m replacement for Fernandez

Forget the worries of last season, Chelsea have purpose and direction again, and the imminent arrival of Xabi Alonso promises a lot.

Can BlueCo project finally reach the highs expected following that big cash grab towards the end of the 2021/22 campaign? Alonso is one of the most exciting young coaches in the world, and his appointment came with far greater demands than his predecessors, who have all been fired.

There will be plenty to cheer about for Chelsea, even if they are facing a miserable season in the Premier League which has seen them finish in ninth place.

However, missing out on Europe obviously comes with any number of obstacles, with captain Enzo Fernandez determined to leave after three and a half years in west London.

How Chelsea plan to replace Fernandez

Fernandez has been a mainstay in Chelsea’s struggling side this season, but has arguably shown top quality during a long period of turmoil at the club.

Real Madrid appear to be winning the race for the Argentine international, although the La Liga giants are unable to meet Chelsea’s £120m asking price.

According to TEAMtalk, Chelsea have also been in contact with Los Blancos over the potential signing of Eduardo Camavinga, who could be used as leverage in a deal that would see Fernandez move away.

Valued at £50m by his Spanish employers, the 23-year-old is also attracting interest from Liverpool and Manchester United, so Chelsea will need to step up their interest if they are to win.

The Frenchman has struggled with injuries during his time in Madrid, but there is no denying that he could be at the top, compared to the one N’Golo Kante has been in the past.

Why Camavinga could be Chelsea’s new Kante

Kante was a one-of-a-kind midfielder for Chelsea, his fitness and performance in the middle of the park making him one of the greatest players of his time.

Camavinga has a long way to go before he compares to the top quality of his country, but there is no question that he has the ability to reach that goal, which is described as “one of the best six in world football” by writer Harvey Diamonds.

However, he has struggled to start a full team for Real Madrid, and could benefit from a move to London and become a star player under Alonso – who managed him in the Spanish capital earlier this season.

Kante has never been a defensive midfielder, a misconception made by observers of the club. But he was a particularly talented midfielder, able to cut across the pitch and win duels, disarming opponents and launching attacks.

He was a rare talent in the Premier League, but Camavinga’s style of play saw him emulate the legendary Les Bleus man, whom former France defender Julian Escude once described as “similar” to Kante when he was young, due to his brilliant style and fighting technique.

Whether Chelsea can get over that line remains to be seen, but Camavinga could be a credit to Alonso’s Blues system, efficient and intelligent on the ball, very precise when challenging opponents.

Unlike Fernandez, his deep play is something to behold, but he could add a different dimension to the Chelsea midfielder, injecting the kind of control Alonso needs to see his team firing on all cylinders.