Chelsea are still in the hunt for a replacement as Manchester City attempt to sign Enzo Fernandez from the Blues and have identified five options
Xabi Alonso and Enzo Fernandez
Chelsea are on the outlook for an Enzo Fernandez replacement(Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
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Chelsea have a five-man shortlist to replace Enzo Fernandez on transfer deadline day that includes players from Arsenal and Tottenham. The Blues are working at finding a midfield signing who can arrive should the Argentina star leave Stamford Bridge in the coming hours.
Fernandez could complete a momentous deadline day transfer to Manchester City before Tuesday's 11pm deadline, and become the first player to have commanded more than £100million twice.
Chelsea's efforts so far have focused on landing Monaco ace Lamine Camara and Roma's Manu Kone. They have so far been able to reach an agreement, with a £38.5m bid for Camara rejected, while Roma boss Gian Piero Gasperini does not want Kone sold.
Xabo Alonso has three more players on the club's shortlist, however, and all are closer to home. talkSPORT reports that Arsenal's Martin Zubimendi, Tottenham's Lucas Bergvall and Morgan Gibbs-White of Nottingham Forest are also under consideration.
Despite the arrival of Bruno Guimaraes to the Emirates this summer, Mikel Arteta suggested that Zubimendi was not available for sale. "No, he’s a really important player. He’s a really important player for us," Arteta said recently.
"Zubi without a doubt was one of the best players for Arsenal last season. Without him we would never get into the position that we got in the last few weeks and he deserves massive credit.
Martin Zubimendi.
Martin Zubimendi is on Chelsea's shortlist(Image: Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
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Spurs ace Bergvall wanted to depart the club earlier in the transfer window but last week Roberto De Zerbi confirmed that he was also set to stay in north London. "Lucas Bergvall, 100 per cent," De Zerbi said when if his charge wanted to stay at Tottenham.
"We spoke a lot in pre-season. He's a top player, a top potential player. I like he stays, but I think now he wants to stay and we have no problem."
Gibbs-White, who is highly regarded by Chelsea, was set to move from the City Ground last summer but saw a transfer to Tottenham collapse when Nottingham Forest threatened legal action over their approach. Instead he signed a new deal with the Tricky Trees.
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