It is starting to look increasingly likely that Enzo Fernandez is on his way out of Chelsea this summer. Despite arguably being the club’s best player right now, a contract extension has not been agreed with the Argentine yet. And even though his current deal is several years left, it could lead to his departure.
When the appointment of Xabi Alonso was announced, it was thought that he was keen to keep hold of Fernandez and even viewed him as one of the club’s leadership group. As a result, one can only wonder kind of a message it would send to the incoming manager if the Argentine leaves this summer.
Some are even starting to question whether the club are serious about keeping Fernandez. There is also a fast-spreading belief amongst a section of the fanbase that Chelsea view the Argentine as one of the players who can bring in a significant transfer fee this summer and help fund a rebuild under Alonso. Is that accurate? We do not know. But it certainly feels plausible for a club that has been posting record losses and does not have Champions League money to fall back on.
According to TEAMtalk, Chelsea are keen on Alex Scott of Bournemouth. It is said that the Blues are now stepping up background checks and considering him as a serious option for their own midfield overhaul. A Fernandez exit is becoming more likely. The Englishman could be a replacement for the Argentinian World Cup winner.
Alex Scott would not be a good enough replacement for Enzo Fernandez
There is no doubt that Scott has enjoyed a very good season with Bournemouth. In fact, there are many who feel that he should have been called up for the England World Cup squad.
So, I have no doubt about his talent or potential. But is he as good as Fernandez? Can he come in and contribute 22 goal contributions, many of them in clutch games?
I do not think so. If Chelsea do end up replacing Fernandez with Scott, it would be a step in a backward direction in a summer transfer window where the promise has been to strengthen the team.
Are Chelsea repeating their mistakes?
Of course, there has been all this talk about Chelsea signing Premier League-proven players. But then, what is the definition of that?
Is it just players who have played in the Premier League for a little while? In the case of Scott, one season as a regular starter. If so, Chelsea simply would not be aiming high enough.
In fact, it would be the typical move that BlueCo have made for the past four years, just with a fresh coat of paint. Of course, nothing is set in stone yet. So, we cannot say anything for certain until that happens. The speculation is not promising, that is for sure.
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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