Chelsea are in danger of losing Enzo Fernandez, who does not appear to be completely happy in west London at the moment.
Despite being on a contract until 2032, Fernandez has refused to commit to Chelsea when asked about his future.
Supporters will not want to see the midfielder go, but it may not actually be the end of the world if he does depart Stamford Bridge.
How would you feel about Leon Goretzka replacing Enzo Fernandez? 🇩🇪 💪
Leon Goretzka of FC Bayern Muenchen controls the Ball
Photo by Harry Langer/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images
Sandro Tonali could make Chelsea’s midfield better
Based on reports, it looks like there is a chance of Newcastle United star Sandro Tonali potentially joining Chelsea in the summer.
It has been claimed that Tonali has already sounded out Chelsea about a possible move to west London.
Technically, Tonali may not be as gifted as Fernandez, but he could make for a much better midfield partner to Moises Caicedo than the Argentine.
Tonali gets up and down the pitch more efficiently, defending better than Fernandez. With him in the side, Chelsea’s midfield is likely to be more balanced.
Newcastle United's Sandro Tonali battles with Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez
Photo by MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Fernandez’s weakness out of possession is perhaps one reason why Liam Rosenior and Enzo Maresca have felt that it has been safer to play him as a No.10, especially during the big games.
It has worked out well, with the Argentina international becoming a real goal threat for Chelsea. However, it has resulted in Cole Palmer having to play out wide, which many feel is not his best position.
Selling Fernandez and replacing the World Cup winner with Tonali solves that issue.
Sandro Tonali and Enzo Fernandez in the Champions League this season
The Champions League is the highest level in club football, so it is worth comparing Tonali’s and Fernandez’s stats in the competition. It may not be possible to do so next season, with Chelsea and Newcastle both possibly set to miss out on qualification.
As already mentioned, Fernandez has been among the goals for the Blues this term, netting three times in the Champions League. That is more than what Tonali has managed, though the Italian’s defensive numbers have been superior.
Player Champions League apps Minutes Goals Assists Tackles per game Interceptions per game Clearances per game
Sandro Tonali 11 955 1 1 1.5 1.3 1.1
Enzo Fernandez 10 749 3 2 1.3 0.2 0.3
Via Sandro Tonali’s WhoScored and Enzo Fernandez’s WhoScored pages
All in all, Chelsea should be looking to keep hold of a player of Fernandez’s quality, but there could be some benefits if they sell the former Benfica man and replace him with Tonali.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best Chelsea content each week direct to your mailbox