With the Xabi Alonso era set to start at Chelsea from this summer, there is positivity amongst the fans. That has been rare in the BlueCo era. For the first time since taking over, they have appointed the popular option. But doing just that won’t be enough. He will need to be back in the transfer market. Unfortunately, it looks like one of the Blues’ best players could leave instead.
Obviously, it is important to sign new players. But at the same time, some stability is needed as well. Just look at how things turned out for Liverpool this season after they made wholesale changes to the squad over the summer after winning the Premier League.
Chelsea do need to keep their best players at Stamford Bridge. But unfortunately, in the case of Enzo Fernandez, all fingers seem to be pointing towards the exit door.
According to an exclusive from The Chelsea Spot, Fernandez is likely to depart the club this summer. Contract negotiations have failed to progress, and the player feels disappointed with “things being done to make him leave”. Barring a major turnaround, he will play his final match for the Blues this weekend.
Could Chelsea actually be content with Fernandez leaving?
Now, here is nothing but a theory on my part. But it does feel possible that Chelsea could be open to the idea of Fernandez leaving the club this summer.
Let’s not forget, they will need to move on players to fund their rebuild. After posting record losses and being fined by UEFA last summer, Chelsea simply are not in a position to splash out without raising funds first.
Fernandez is one of the few players the club have who can bring in a transfer fee in the region of £100 million. That would go a long way in signing new players.
Why Fernandez’s exit should not be entertained
The performance against Tottenham Hotspur was a reminder of what Fernandez is capable of. He might very well be the club’s best player right now, even though Joao Pedro might have been handed the award for this campaign.
Fernandez has 22 goal contributions while playing in midfield. Chelsea will have a very tough time replacing that kind of output, even if they are paid a £100 million transfer fee to part ways with the Argentine.
Also, what kind of message does that send to Alonso? There have been suggestions already that he wants Fernandez to stay. Losing one of the club’s key players in his very first transfer window won’t boost the Spaniard’s confidence that he has made the right choice by choosing Chelsea.
The best-case scenario would be Fernandez staying. But from everything we have heard and read over the last few days, it looks like the midfielder is inching closer towards the exit door.
Sourav Mahanty
Sourav Mahanty has covered teams like Chelsea, Celtic, Real Madrid, Manchester United, PSG and more over a career that has now lasted a decade. His work has been featured on Sports Illustrated, Athlon Sports, SB Nation, FanSided, The Sportster and aggregated through Bleacher Report and NewsNow. Outside of football, he is also interested in basketball, cricket and professional wrestling.
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