La Liga champions Real Madrid are actively targeting a Chelsea star, who could now leave for much less than his initial asking price.
Chelsea plotting midfield overhaul this summer
A few reports from the last two days and beyond have indicated that Enzo Maresca is plotting a potential midfield reshuffle at Stamford Bridge this summer.
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The American billionaire has a target in his sights.
Maresca requested a senior midfield signing in January, according to journalist Simon Phillips, but Chelsea responded by sealing a deal for 19-year-old Mathis Amougou from Saint-Etienne in a move worth around £12 million.
Fast-forward to now, and Amougou has played just seven minutes for Chelsea, and the teenager is expected to head out on loan to their sister club Strasbourg for the entirety of 2025/2026 (Fabrizio Romano).
Their need for another midfielder is made more prevalent by Romeo Lavia’s woeful injury record since making the move to Stamford Bridge from Southampton in 2023, with Maresca’s side eyeing up a host of alternative options for this summer.
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Chelsea’s next five Premier League fixtures |
Date |
|---|---|
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Arsenal (away) |
March 16th |
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Tottenham (home) |
April 2nd |
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Brentford (away) |
April 5th |
|
Ipswich Town (home) |
April 12th |
|
Fulham (away) |
April 19th |
Chelsea are reportedly targeting Barcelona’s Gavi, with BlueCo also holding an interest in signing Marc Casado from the Camp Nou.
Meanwhile, it is believed that Sunderland star Jobe Bellingham is attracting interest from Chelsea as well, and the Blues cannot be discounted yet again in the potential race to lure Kobbie Mainoo away from Man United amid his new contract talks.
There are plenty of targets being considered by Chelsea ahead of next season, which could become even more prevalent as Real eye a move for Enzo Fernandez.
The £180,000-per-week Argentine, who’s racked up four goals and five assists in 26 Premier League appearances under Maresca this season, has also started 16 out of Chelsea’s last 17 top-flight matches as club captain.
Fernandez’s emergence as a pivotal player for Maresca is thought to be turning heads at the Bernabeu, with Ancelotti and co very keen on the ex-Benfica star.
Real Madrid set sights on signing Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea
According to a report from Spain, Real Madrid have set their sights on signing Fernandez from Chelsea.
It is added that the Blues could even sell for £34 million less than his original £102 million valuation, with Fernandez’s potential £68 million price tag seriously enticing Real president Florentino Perez and the board.
It is unclear why Fernandez’s tag has dropped so significantly, but Real view the Chelsea star as a very attractive option and potential key arrival. This comes as Eduardo Camavinga is heavily linked with a move away this summer, and Ancelotti’s side have Fernandez high on their list of replacements for the Frenchman.
Alongside Fernandez, Real are believed to be considering Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton and Paris-Saint Germain star Joao Neves.
“There is something about his body language at the moment,” said Jason Cundy on Fernandez’s leadership at Chelsea.
“Even though it’s been a bad run, he has stood up. There are leadership qualities in every game that I see that he’s now displaying on the pitch. We don’t have a huge amount of leaders in the squad, but I’m looking at him now.”
