If Manchester City suddenly decides to sign Enzo Fernández, Chelsea will need to prepare alternative plans.

Manchester City had the opportunity to sign Chelsea's midfielder for £120 million last weekend but failed to submit an offer before the unofficial Friday 5 p.m. deadline.

According to Football.London, Enzo Fernández informed Chelsea's hierarchy of his desire to leave back in May. His future became uncertain in early March when he hinted at potentially leaving Stamford Bridge and expressed a desire to one day live in Spain's capital.

He subsequently became the subject of transfer rumors linking him to the Bernabéu. In early July, Real Madrid explicitly denied any intention to sign Enzo Fernández, whose contract with Chelsea runs until June 2032, and stated they would not pursue such a move in the future.

In an official statement, Real Madrid said they held the player in "the highest regard" but had "no intention of carrying out such an operation." Real Madrid also emphasized their "excellent relationship" with Chelsea, referencing their recent signing of Marc Cucurella from the Blues just hours before Spain's opening World Cup match.

Chelsea, keen to finalize their squad for the new season, informed interested parties that they must meet their £120 million asking price by Friday, August 14 at 5 p.m. According to Football.London, Manchester City did not submit an offer before this unofficial deadline, though they remain interested in acquiring the Argentine international.

Follow our Chelsea Facebook page! The latest Chelsea news, analysis, and updates will be posted exclusively on our dedicated Facebook page.

If Enzo Maresca pushes to sign Enzo Fernández and Manchester City eventually makes an official bid, Chelsea will need to immediately find a replacement. Based on this scenario, Football.London has compiled a list of three potential replacements Chelsea could consider.

Wharton would be an ideal addition to Chelsea's squad. While the Crystal Palace midfielder may not match Enzo Fernández's goal-scoring record, if the latter excels in big matches, Wharton is one of the few players capable of controlling the tempo and dominating possession. He operates in a deeper role, often dropping back to receive the ball and break the lines. The role he plays would be similar to the Argentine midfielder's position when he first joined Chelsea in 2023. As long as Alonzo is confident that wingers and forwards can complement Enzo Fernández's productivity in the final third, the 22-year-old playmaker could be a perfect choice.

According to Football.London, Chelsea have long admired Wharton, whose contract with Selhurst Park runs until June 2029. The England international's potential transfer fee is estimated at around £100 million.

Scott could also be a strong successor to Enzo Fernández. The Bournemouth midfielder is not quite as skilled as Wharton at maintaining both attacking and defensive play, but he offers greater dynamism and mobility in central midfield, moving between both penalty boxes. While the Crystal Palace midfielder excels at progressing the ball forward from midfield using excellent passing range, Scott primarily advances through dribbling. From this perspective, the 22-year-old midfielder would bring something different to Chelsea's midfield, which may be exactly what Alonzo wants.

According to Football.London, Chelsea are very interested in signing Scott, whose contract with the Vitality Stadium runs until June 2028. However, the Blues are expected to pursue this deal only if Enzo Fernández leaves. Chelsea offered the England international £64 million this summer but were rejected, with Bournemouth insisting he is not for sale. Scott also reportedly rejected a contract extension offer from the Cherries last month.

Luis has not been the subject of Chelsea transfer speculation, but Alonzo should attempt to sign him from Paris Saint-Germain. Under Luis Enrique, the 30-year-old has quietly become one of the world's finest midfielders, and his contract with the Paris club has only one year remaining.

Chelsea must gauge PSG's stance. Luis will become a free agent at the end of the season and, unlike the other players on this list, would not command an enormous transfer fee, making him a very valuable acquisition.

The Spanish international would bring world-class quality and vast experience to Stamford Bridge, which is precisely what Alonzo wants. Luis is only 30 and remains in his prime.

He has already won every domestic and European trophy at Paris Saint-Germain, and the southwest London project would appeal to him.

AI 번역.

AF PC사이트가 오픈했습니다! 컴퓨터에서 전체 뉴스, 댓글, 경기 상세 정보와 데이터를 확인하세요. 방문하기: www.allfootballapp.com