Why the £100m Premier League star is Chelsea’s dream signing to replace Fernandez
Chelsea didn’t expect to turn into title contenders when Enzo Maresca was sacked midway through the 2025/26 campaign, but neither could the Stamford Bridge side have expected to fall so far by the wayside.
A tenth place finish in the Premier League will have hurt BlueCo, although they will also be well aware that it was not the main focus of their project. Chelsea need to find stability, and they may have struck gold there, hiring Xabi Alonso, one of the world’s most talented young tacticians.
Alonso brings hope and expectation, but ambitions may need to be adjusted slightly in the short term, when a tenth-place finish cuts Chelsea’s link to European football – for now.
Marc Cucurella has already joined Real Madrid, and while a major move could be imminent, Enzo Fernandez’s future at Stamford Bridge is uncertain.
Why losing Fernandez is a blow for Chelsea
“Do you want to keep Enzo Fernandez at Chelsea”, asked another reporter during Alonso’s first Chelsea conference. “Yes”, was the short and emphatic answer.
This is a club record signing for the Blues, the man who led the BlueCo era when he joined from Benfica for £107m back in January 2023. Chelsea have been on a roll since then, but there is no doubt that the Argentine star has become one of the most important and influential members of the team.
Hailed as a “winner” with “so much fire” in his belly by former Chelsea interim manager Calum McFarlane, Fernandez is the modern midfielder: he scores goals, creates, duels, challenges, sets the tempo.
He has also been a mainstay during a turbulent season for BlueCo, and last season in the Premier League, Fernandez scored ten goals, created 11 big chances and covered a lot of space in midfield.
|
Chelsea’s Greatest Appearances (current players) |
||
|---|---|---|
|
The player |
Applications |
G/A |
|
Recece James |
229 |
47 |
|
Enzo Fernandez |
169 |
67 |
|
Trevoh Chalobah |
151 |
11 |
|
Moises Caicedo |
148 |
19 |
|
Malo Gusto |
134 |
20 |
A natural-born leader, you can see why Alonso doesn’t want to lose him – and you can see why the rest of Europe’s elite are so determined. Even if Real Madrid failed to confirm their interest, Arsenal and Manchester City have made their interest clear.
All in all, Fernandez is a special midfielder, one of a kind. He has shown that again for his nation this summer, and England fans will be hoping he has an off day on Wednesday, in time for the much-anticipated semi-final.
However, if he leaves, there is no question that the Blues will need to replace him.
Chelsea pictured signing Fernandez for big money
The midfield market has been overcrowded in the Premier League this summer, and while Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes have already joined Tottenham Hotspur, Elliot Anderson is moving to Manchester City, and Bruno Guimaraes is hoping to join Arsenal, Chelsea could pull out their own tent in the coming months.
Like Chelsea transfer insider Simon Phillips, Alonso and his coterie have identified Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton as their top target to strengthen the midfield this summer, should Fernandez eventually leave.
From the outside, it may seem that Fernandez could stay at Stamford Bridge beyond the summer, but Wharton is still a target, and since BlueCo officials have already engaged in “discussions with his agents”, it is clear that they are gathering their bases.
Palace is understood to have valued the England player, who was overlooked by Thomas Tuchel before the World Cup, for around £100m. Chelsea, as well as any other players (Liverpool and Manchester United have both expressed interest since the end of the 2025/26 season), would not be willing to pay that amount, so this one is definitely involved.
Wharton is not as strong in sports as other elite Premier League midfielders, but he is a “passing machine”, as noted by journalist Henry Winter, and he has inspired the idea of winning in the last few years with Oliver Glasner, holding the FA Cup in 2024/25 and the Conference League title last year.
Fernandez is one of the best players in the Premier League. He also only won 43% of his ground battles in the top flight last season, so for all his creative abilities and goal-scoring nature, the South American cannot be replaced, especially if a midfielder of Wharton’s profile is accepted to replace him.
Wharton is no longer a newbie to the Premier League, and his ability to change the game could be beneficial to a Chelsea side in transition.
Alonso and the board will not want to shell out a nine-figure sum for his services. Palace’s asking price needs to be cut. However, if Fernandez is sold, he could be the replacement – and there will be money to spare.
