Si Phillips explores the possibility of offloading Enzo Fernandez in the summer, suggesting that selling the midfielder and replacing him with Andrey Santos could provide Chelsea with a more balanced and cost-effective midfield.
In an opinion piece prompted by a community comment from Umair, Si Phillips argues that selling Enzo Fernandez might not be an unrealistic prospect for Chelsea this summer. Phillips contends that the current midfield setup—heavily reliant on players like Moises Caicedo—is being overrun on the counter, and that a pairing of Caicedo with a player like Romeo Lavia (or even Andrey Santos) would offer greater stability. He notes that Fernandez, despite his talent, appears to be a disruptive presence, easily wound up and prone to giving away the game. The article also touches on whispers of potential moves, including a scenario where Chelsea could sign Aurelien Tchouameni and send Fernandez to Real Madrid.
Phillips highlights the reality of contract clauses that could force player departures if targets such as Champions League qualification are not met. He expresses concern for Cole Palmer as well, with rumours suggesting Manchester City may be interested in re-signing him. Ultimately, Phillips calls for Chelsea to prioritise signing a more defensive-minded midfielder—someone with the attributes of Palhinha or Nemanja Matic—to solidify their midfield and prevent counter-attacks, questioning the current strategy under the club's management.
This perspective, although not yet fully sourced, adds to the ongoing debate about Chelsea’s transfer strategy and their ability to build a competitive midfield for the future.
