LONDON — The recent departure of Moisés Caicedo from Chelsea’s 4-3 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday, just 14 minutes into the game, perfectly highlights the risk Chelsea faces in potentially allowing Enzo Fernández to leave Stamford Bridge for Manchester City.
After a tumultuous season under managers Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior, Chelsea has rejuvenated itself under new head coach Xabi Alonso, positioning the team as serious contenders in the Premier League.
Next weekend, they will be up against the reigning champions Arsenal after successfully winning their first two league matches this season, where they scored a total of seven goals against Fulham and Brighton. There’s growing optimism at Chelsea that they could be initiating a title challenge for the first time in a decade.
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However, Caicedo’s injury in the second half, after being substituted in for Pedro Neto, should serve as a sobering reminder for Alonso and Chelsea’s management that while selling Fernández may seem profitable, it could also be unwise. With only two days remaining before the transfer window closes, Chelsea is lacking the squad depth necessary to thrive without Fernández, especially with Caicedo’s fitness now in question.
Fernández, who made a then-record signing of £105 million when joining Chelsea from Benfica in January 2023, has expressed a desire to leave Stamford Bridge for several months. His recent absence from the squad in back-to-back matches suggests that he may have played his final outing for the club.
Manchester City is poised to initiate a £120 million move for Fernández, while Chelsea is exploring replacements such as Alex Scott from AFC Bournemouth and Lamine Camara from Monaco. However, time is of the essence for these potential transfers.
While Scott has proven himself in the Premier League, Bournemouth coach Marco Rose indicated last week that he’s not leaving his current side in this transfer window. Conversely, Camara, a highly regarded prospect, presents a risk as a replacement for Fernández.
With Caicedo’s injury concerns now looming, Alonso may have to guide his team into the upcoming match against Arsenal without the crucial midfielders who have anchored Chelsea for the past two seasons.
Following the victory over Brighton, Alonso remained tight-lipped about Fernández’s future, only stating that Chelsea is prepared for all possible outcomes.
“We’ll have to wait and see. We want what’s best for the team,” Alonso said regarding the situation with Fernández. “We’re not certain what will unfold, but we’re ready for any scenario. I believe, starting Wednesday, we have a team capable of challenging, and my goal is to win.”
As the former Real Madrid coach, Alonso did not appear overly worried about the severity of Caicedo’s injury, but he acknowledged the potential for it to be an issue.
“Hopefully, it’s not a new injury and won’t be worse than the last one,” Alonso stated. “[Caicedo] was cautious in his decision to stop, expressing that he wasn’t feeling great, but we’ll need to assess his condition this week.”
Unless Caicedo’s injury is serious enough to result in an extended absence, which seems unlikely since he managed to leave the pitch on his own, it may not hinder Chelsea’s move for Fernández. Nevertheless, the absence of the Argentina international leaves Chelsea lacking a world-class midfielder, evident in the recent match against Brighton where the team recorded just 25.6% possession—the lowest in Premier League history for Chelsea.
In defending his team’s performance, Alonso cited the need for his players to “adapt” after taking a 3-0 lead early on in the first half. However, record-low possession at home is a troubling trend for any team aspiring to compete for the title. With Arsenal boasting a strong midfield following their recent additions, Chelsea may weaken their own squad by selling Fernández, particularly given that he could be heading to a direct competitor.
Ultimately, financial motives could influence Chelsea to part ways with Fernández, potentially resulting in a healthy profit. This could also alleviate the situation with a player unwilling to remain in the Alonso era.
However, without him, Chelsea’s chances of competing for the title would be significantly impacted. Romeo Lavia, who netted the opening goal against Brighton, possesses talent but has a history of injuries, while Malo Gusto demonstrated that he is not the solution while filling in out of position in midfield.
With his extensive experience as a world-class midfielder, Alonso understands that control in midfield is crucial to winning matches. Yet, he appears willing to diminish his options by allowing Fernández to depart.
This is a monumental decision driven by financial reasons and team morale but lacks substantial clarity from a footballing perspective. The ramifications of this decision could become evident in the upcoming match against Arsenal if both Fernández and Caicedo are absent from the lineup.