AS Roma midfielder Manu Kone
Chelsea are interested in AS Roma midfielder Manu Kone(Image: Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto)
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Chelsea have identified AS Roma midfielder Manu Kone as an option in the final stages of the summer transfer window, football.london understands.
The 25-year-old is a candidate for the Blues amid the ongoing uncertainty surrounding Enzo Fernandez's future at Stamford Bridge. Manchester City are interested in the Argentina international before Tuesday night's transfer deadline and Chelsea are prepared for all scenarios when it comes to their wantaway midfielder.
Lamine Camara from AS Monaco has also been identified as an option for the Blues, who are hoping to loan Dario Essugo out before the window closes.
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Xabi Alonso said in his post-match press conference on Sunday that Chelsea are ready for whatever happens as the Fernandez saga draws to its conclusion one way or the other.
Alonso said: "We want the best for the team and that's why we made the decision against Luton and today and anything that happens before Tuesday evening, we need to be aware of what is going to develop.
"We are not sure, we are preparing for all the scenarios but I am sure that whatever happens from Wednesday we will have a good enough squad to compete in all the Premier League games."
Alonso started with Malo Gusto and Romeo Lavia in the centre of Chelsea's midfield for the victory against Brighton at the weekend. Moises Caicedo came on in the second-half but limped off with an injury and was replaced by Valentin Barco.
After the match, Alonso was hopeful it was not a recurrence of the same problem that kept the Ecuadorian out of Chelsea's first two games. He said: "Hopefully it was not new and it wasn't more than last time. So he was cautious to stop, to say that this feeling was not the best but we need to assess during the week. But it wasn't something new."