Xabi Alonso and Enzo Fernandez
Xabi Alonso speaks with Enzo Fernandez(Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA)
View 2 Images
There always seemed to be an inevitability when it came to Chelsea selling Enzo Fernandez on transfer deadline day. Blues supporters were largely fine with it given the Argentine had made it abundantly clear he didn't want to be at Stamford Bridge.
However, Chelsea fans were desperate to see a new midfielder come in before Tuesday's 11pm deadline. For a brief moment, with less than two hours of the transfer window remaining, the Blues looked as if they had gotten their man.
Just after 11pm, though, football.london was told that was no longer the case after AS Monaco pulled the plug on a deal for Chelsea to sign Lamine Camara. The Blues had a written agreement worth £47million for the Senegal international to move to west London, but after Monaco's sale of Folarin Balogun to Everton collapsed, the Ligue 1 club called the deal off.
This left Chelsea officials furious with sources referencing Monaco's unprofessional behaviour. While it was undoubtedly a dampener on the summer transfer window, there are so many positives for the west London club to take.
FOLLOW OUR CHELSEA FB PAGE! Latest Blues news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page
With a bit of luck, even after missing out on another midfield option, manager Xabi Alonso should be well stocked when it comes to the middle of the pitch. Chelsea have no European football to contend with this season, so their calendar will have a lot of blank dates and many expect that to play into Alonso's hands.
The Spaniard has four natural central midfield options in Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia, Jordan Henderson and Valentin Barco. We should find out more on Caicedo's injury, that forced him off in Sunday's win over Brighton at Stamford Bridge, during Alonso's pre-Arsenal press conference on Friday afternoon (1:30pm start).
Likewise with Henderson, who is yet to feature for his new club after suffering a serious arm injury - one that required surgery - during England's World Cup campaign.
Alonso does have other options as well. With the Chelsea manager using a three-back formation for two of the opening three matches of the new season, a midfield role seems to suit captain Reece James a bit more. Chelsea sources expect the 26-year-old to play a leading role in the centre of midfield this season.
Reece James
Reece James is expected to play a leading role in midfield for Chelsea this season(Image: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC)
View 2 Images
Fernandez's departure should therefore not be felt as much, in terms of depth at least. In the 3-4-3 system, Fernandez would likely have been one of the two in the midfield, with the attacking two spots behind Joao Pedro suiting the skillsets of Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers more.
Malo Gusto, as showcased in the Blues' 4-3 win over the Seagulls on Sunday afternoon, is also an option in the centre of midfield.
As it stands, Chelsea don't have many midweek matches to contend with in the near future. Theoretically, Alonso's squad should not be stretched as much. That could change, of course, if Chelsea progress against Leeds United in the Carabao Cup third round next week but even that should be enough for the west Londoners to deal with.