Why Chelsea could sign £80m Premier League star to replace Fernandez

BlueCo’s experiment at Chelsea over recent years has certainly failed to take off as they expected, with just a Europa Conference League trophy to show for their £1.4b spending.

Various managers have tried and failed to succeed under their ownership, with Xabi Alonso the latest to try and bring the glory days back to Stamford Bridge.

The Spaniard has previous experience of claiming top-division glory, as seen at Bayer Leverkusen back in 2023/24, with the supporters hoping he can emulate such success in the Premier League.

However, it remains to be seen how much of an impact one player will have under his guidance, especially after his recent shenanigans on the international stage.

What the future holds for Enzo under Alonso at Chelsea

Enzo Fernández is a player who has constantly divided opinion during his time at Chelsea, after the midfielder arrived from Benfica for a reported £106.8m back in 2023.

The 25-year-old has often come under fire for his hot-headed nature on the pitch – something which was reflected in the World Cup final as he was dismissed for a second bookable offence.

The Argentinian international has also been strongly linked with a move to Spanish giants Real Madrid, which could bring his time in West London to a close this summer.

As a result, Alonso will be looking to put his own stamp on the side with his 3-4-2-1 system, with Moises Caicedo likely to be the key operator at the heart of the side.

The sale of Andrey Santos has already seen one key senior midfield option depart the Bridge, but such funds could be used to recruit a new talent within central areas.

There’s no denying that on his day Enzo is a seriously talented player and one who can set the division alight – but it remains to be seen if the new boss believes he can rely upon him.

If he decides against including him in his plans, a hefty sum could be received by the Blues – something which could massively help the hierarchy in their attempts to improve the squad.

How Chelsea can land a better talent than Enzo this summer

Regardless of Enzo’s future at Chelsea, the recruitment team have been working tirelessly to land the calibre of player needed for success under the Spaniard’s guidance.

Numerous players have appeared on their shortlist over the last couple of months, with only full-back Marco Palestra the only arrival at the Bridge to date.

However, that could be about to change in the coming weeks, with the Blues making a potential move for Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott a priority.

It’s been reported by talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook that Chelsea have seen a £60m approach rejected for the player. It was rebuffed because the Cherries deem it to be nowhere near the valuation they hold for the player. Crook does not reveal that that value is but previous reports have suggested it could take £80m to prise him away from the Vitality Stadium.

A move for the Bournemouth star would highlight the board’s ambitions to back the new boss, but it could spell the end of the road for Fernandez in West London.

However, the decision may prove to be the right one for the Blues, with Scott managing to outperform the Argentine star in numerous key areas last campaign.

The Cherries’ youngster achieved a better dribble success rate last term, whilst also completing more of the passes he attempted in England’s top-flight.

His subsequent tallies on the South Coast ranked him in the top 15% of all midfielders in Europe, which could arguably make him a better ball-playing option than Enzo.

Without the ball, the Englishman also managed to outperform the current Chelsea star, subsequently making nearly two times more defensive contributions per 90.

Scott’s higher tally of tackles and ball recoveries made per 90 further showcases his dominance out of possession – whilst also backing up Pep Guardiola’s comment that he’s an “unbelievable talent.”

At just 22, the Cherries star is three years younger than the Argentine star, but already appears to be a more well-rounded option at the base of the midfield.

He still has bags of time to reach the next level in his development, with the Blues hoping that he can become a world-class operator upon any move to West London.

£80m may seem to be a mammoth sum for the Englishman, but it could prove to be a bargain – especially considering Fernandez joined for nearly £30m more three years ago.

A move for Scott could free the Blues up to finally cash in on the Argentine and end the constant speculation over his long-term future amid interest from Spain.