Forget the troubles of the past season, Chelsea have purpose and direction once again, with Xabi Alonso's imminent arrival promising a lot.
Could the BlueCo project finally hit the heights that were expected following that big-money takeover toward the end of the 2021/22 campaign? Alonso is one of the most exciting young coaches in the world, and his appointment has come with demands for far greater power than his predecessors, all of whom have been sacked.
Chelsea Permanent Managers under Boehly
Manager
Liam Rosenior
Enzo Maresca
Mauricio Pochettino
Graham Potter
There is a lot to be excited about at Chelsea, even against the backdrop of a miserable season in the Premier League that saw them finish in ninth place.
However, missing out on Europe obviously comes with any number of drawbacks, with captain Enzo Fernandez angling for a move away after three-and-a-half years in west London.
How Chelsea plan on replacing Fernandez
Fernandez has been the centrepiece of a struggling Chelsea side this season, but he has undoubtedly shown elite quality throughout what has been an extended period of turbulence for the club.
Real Madrid appear to be winning the race for the Argentina international, though the La Liga giants are unable to meet Chelsea's £120m asking price.
According to TEAMtalk, Chelsea have also been in contact with Los Blancos over the potential signing of Eduardo Camavinga, who could indeed be used as a makeweight in a deal that would see Fernandez head the other way.
Real Madrid's Eduardo Camavinga
Valued at £50m by his Spanish employers, the 23-year-old is also attracting interest from Liverpool and Manchester United, so Chelsea will need to accelerate their interest sharpish if they are to prevail.
The France international has struggled with injuries during his time in Madrid, but there's no denying his world-class potential, with comparisons made with one N'Golo Kante in the past.
Why Camavinga can be Chelsea's new Kante
Kante was a one-of-a-kind midfielder for Chelsea, with his stamina and application across the centre of the park establishing him as one of the greatest players of his time.
Chelsea-Kante-record-stats (timeless)
Camavinga has a long way to go before he matches his countryman's peak, but there's no question that he has the potential to achieve that goal, already described as "one of the best sixes in world football" by writer Harvey Diamonds.
Even so, he's struggled to nail down a starting berth in Real Madrid's brim-full squad, and might just benefit from moving to London and becoming the star of the show under Alonso - who, of course, managed him in the Spanish capital earlier this season.
League Form Comparison (2025/26)
Stats (* per 90)
Matches (starts)
Goals + Assists
Touches*
Accurate passes*
Big chances created
Key passes*
Possession lost*
Succ. dribbles*
Ball recoveries*
Tackles + interceptions*
Clearances*
Duels won*
Kante was never a defensive midfielder, a misconception many other-club observers have made. But he was an exceptionally talented midfielder, capable of zipping across the pitch and winning duels, disarming opponents and then sparking attacks.
His was a rare skillset in the Premier League, but Camavinga's own playing style could see him emulate the legendary Les Bleus man, with former France defender Julian Escude once calling him "the same" as Kante as a teenager, owing to his smart approach and combativeness and technicality.
Whether Chelsea manage to get this one over the line remains to be seen, but Camavinga would be a credit to Alonso's Blues system, so efficient and intelligent on the ball, so precise when challenging opponents.
He is not the same as Fernandez, whose deep-lying playmaking is a thing to behold, but he would add a different dimension to Chelsea's midfield, instilling the kind of control that Alonso needs to see his team fire on all cylinders.
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Chelsea need to deal with the potential sale of Enzo Fernandez this summer.