If Manchester City suddenly meet Enzo Fernandes' asking price, Chelsea must be prepared to immediately spend money to bring in a new midfielder.
Chelsea need to prepare contingency plans in case Manchester City suddenly decide to pursue Enzo Fernandes. The Premier League champions had a chance to sign the Chelsea midfielder for £120 million last weekend, but they did not submit an offer before the unofficial deadline of 5 pm on Friday.
According to London Football, Fernandez informed Stamford Bridge management in late May that he intended to leave the club. The Argentine international first wavered about his future in March, at which time he did not rule out leaving Chelsea and stated that he wanted to live in the Spanish capital someday.
Not long after, he was linked with a move to the Bernabéu. By early July, Real Madrid explicitly denied having taken or planning any action to sign Fernandez, whose contract with Chelsea runs until June 2032.
In an official statement, Real Madrid said that while they have "great respect" for the player, they have "no intention of pursuing such a move." Real Madrid also emphasized their "good relationship" with Chelsea, noting that they signed Marc Cucurella just hours before Spain's first World Cup match.
In an effort to finalize preparations for the new season as quickly as possible, Chelsea have told potential buyers they must meet their £120 million asking price by 5 pm on Friday, August 14th. According to London Football, Manchester City did not make an offer before this informal deadline, but they remain interested in signing the Argentine.
If Enzo Maresca pushes for the signing of Fernandes and Manchester City ultimately submits an offer, Chelsea will have to immediately come up with a replacement. Based on this, London Football has selected three players Chelsea should sign to replace their vice-captain.
Walton would be an ideal addition to Chelsea's squad. While the Crystal Palace midfielder may not score as many goals as Fernandes, Fernandes is a top player in crucial matches, and Walton is one of the few on the market who can take over games and control possession.
Walton plays a deeper position, often dropping back to receive the ball and break down opposing defenses. He will likely play a similar role to Fernandes when he first joined Chelsea in 2023. The 22-year-old playmaker could be a perfect fit, provided Alonso is confident that the wing-backs and attacking players can compensate for Fernandes' output in the attacking third.
According to London Football, Chelsea have long admired Walton, whose contract with Selhurst Park expires in June 2029. Any potential deal is reportedly close to £100 million.
Scott could also be an equally excellent replacement for Fernandes. The Bournemouth midfielder is just as good at controlling the tempo as Walton, but he can provide more energy and movement in midfield, covering a wider area.
Walton excels at using excellent passing range to advance possession through the middle, while Scott primarily relies on dribbling and overlapping runs to push forward. Therefore, this 22-year-old midfielder will bring some different midfield qualities to Chelsea, which may be exactly what Alonso wants.
According to London Football, Chelsea are interested in signing Scott, whose contract with Vitality Stadium expires in June 2028. However, it is said that the Blues would only be able to move forward with the deal if Fernandes leaves.
Chelsea made a £64 million bid for the Englishman earlier this summer, but were rejected, with Bournemouth insisting he was not for sale. Meanwhile, Scott reportedly also rejected a contract extension offer from the Cherries last month.
Although Ruiz hasn't been linked with a transfer to Chelsea, Alonso should try to lure him away from Paris Saint-Germain. Under Luis Enrique, the 30-year-old midfielder has quietly developed into one of the best in the world, and he only has one year left on his contract with PSG.
Chelsea should test the waters at the Parc des Princes. Ruiz will leave on a free transfer at the end of the season, so he might not command exorbitant prices like others on the list, making him seem like excellent value.
This Spanish international will bring star quality and a wealth of experience to Stamford Bridge, exactly what Alonso wants. Ruiz is only 30 years old, meaning he's still in the prime of his career.
He has already won every domestic and European honor with Paris Saint-Germain, and the plans for West London are likely to appeal to him. Ultimately, if Chelsea doesn't make the first move, other Premier League giants will probably do the same…
