Chelsea are having to prepare for the eventuality that Enzo Fernandez leaves the club this summer, and have reportedly lined up their number one target to replace him.
Fernandez is hinting that a move to Real Madrid is in his vision, after failing to commit his future to Chelsea on a number of occasions.
It has been reported that the Blues are holding out for a fee of £100m to part ways, although opening up an avenue where they could go into next season without the World Cup winner.
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Adam Wharton is Chelsea’s number one target to replace Enzo Fernandez
A number of players have cropped up as potential targets for the club, including Crystal Palace and England star Adam Wharton.
The midfielder was on their radar before he even arrived in the Premier League, and according to Simon Phillips, is the club’s number one target for this summer.
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He said to his Substack: “SPTC Sources have heard that the number one target in midfield for Chelsea this summer right now is Adam Wharton of Crystal Palace.
“Wharton has been liked by the current Chelsea recruitment team for some time, even before he joined Palace. And they see him as a profile that needs adding to this squad the most.
“Wharton won’t come cheap, but neither will any midfield target that the club are looking at really. Chelsea will also face competition for the England international, as they will for any other target they are looking at. So there is no guarantee that Chelsea land Wharton, far from it. And they will also be able to pivot to other targets. But we have heard that initial contact has been made with Wharton’s reps.”
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With Romeo Lavia’s injury woes following him into this season, there is already need to invest in the middle of the park before the Fernandez saga.
The likes of Elliot Anderson and Carlos Baleba have been mentioned as targets too, with a number of top Premier League sides also being linked to the pair.
A lot could depend on how the targets get on at the World Cup. Anderson is expected to start for Thomas Tuchel’s England, while Wharton is still looking to nail down a place in the squad.
This could give both experience of featuring in a midfield that may also include Cole Palmer, after his promising cameo against Uruguay with the Three Lions.
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