Chelsea line up Enzo Fernandez replacement on busy transfer Deadline Day

There will be plenty of Premier League drama on transfer Deadline Day, and Chelsea are expected to play a central role.
This has already been a very busy summer for the Blues in the transfer market, but they are showing no signs of stopping.
Chelsea’s chiefs have plenty left to sort before tonight’s 11pm deadline and will be busy on both incomings and outgoings on a hectic final day.
Possible ins
Chelsea’s attention in terms of incomings will be firmly focused on midfield.
Following a late change of heart after being offered Emi Martinez following Robert Sanchez’s errors against Fulham, Chelsea moved swiftly and decisively to finalise a deal for Martinez. That cleared the decks for the final piece of the jigsaw.
Manchester City’s interest in Enzo Fernandez has never gone away, and his importance to Chelsea has meant that the Blues have had to keep at least one eye on the midfield market throughout the window.
Chelsea are willing to sell Fernandez as long as they feel they will finish the window in a stronger position. That means any signing who comes in if Fernandez heads in the other direction does not necessarily need to be a like-for-like replacement.

Chelsea have a list of potential replacements for Fernandez, made up of central midfielders they hold an active interest in. Some, like Bournemouth’s Alex Scott, have been admired by the Blues for a number of months.
Also on the list of potential replacements is Manu Kone, though Roma are known not to want to sell the French international. Chelsea have considered a move for Kone.
Chelsea have also explored a move for the Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara, 22, though it is unclear whether that will progress.
An admiration for Adam Wharton is long-standing, but Crystal Palace value the January 2024 signing very highly and do not want to sell him - which Chelsea are aware of.
Potential outs
Fernandez could leave. Chelsea want more than £120million for the Argentine, and the terms of the deal must be right for the club.
City have been expected to submit a formal bid for Fernandez, who their manager Enzo Maresca, formerly the Chelsea head coach, keenly wants to work with again.
Chelsea will listen to offers to buy or loan Sanchez after they completed the signing of Emi Martinez. Mike Penders remains highly-rated by Chelsea’s hierarchy and will stick with the first team. Sanchez has been linked with Como.
They want to sell Tosin Adarabioyo before the deadline and he is an option for Tottenham if Kevin Danso leaves. Pedro Neto has, over the course of the summer, been the subject of interest from a number of clubs but is valued at £100m and has featured under Xabi Alonso this season. It is expected that any sale on deadline day for Neto would not have been initiated by Chelsea. Marc Guiu is valued at £25m and for sale.
Mykhailo Mudryk prefers a Premier League loan move and is available on loan but not for sale. Totteham are now his clear preference and are working on a loan move that would reunite him with his former Shakhtar Donetsk manager Roberto De Zerbi, who once claimed he can win a Ballon d’Or. Dario Essugo, linked with Hull City, and academy star Shim Mheuka can leave on loan if a suitable avenue is found.
