Chelsea could turn to familiar friends to solve their transfer issues heading into 2023. With midfielders on the menu and a shortlist of targets to ensure that Graham Potter isn't left short-changed for the rest of the season, there is an element of prioritising the position.
With a set of injuries and contract expiries to deal with, there is now a process looking at bringing a player in next month and over the summer with Enzo Fernandez the man at the forefront right now. The 21-year-old is taking up a lot of Chelsea's energy as Todd Boehly looks to bring in the talented Argentina World Cup winner next month.
Although the winter window isn't open there have been talks between Chelsea and Benfica, as well as the start of personal negotiations with the player. Given the sums of money involved, £105m as a release clause with the expectation that Chelsea may pay more to get the deal over the line, it is still a long way from completion.
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However, should Fernandez remain in Portugal, the need for another addition in the centre of the park is still there. In this case Chelsea are looking at Moises Caicedo from Brighton with Ecuadorian publication Teradeportes writing that he is an option. The Blues added former Brighton recruitment director Paul Winstanley to their setup last month and are now looking towards the expert to boost their chances at making key signings.
Caicedo was a target over the summer under Thomas Tuchel after Potter's first season working with the youngster went so smoothly and he has attracted the attention of Manchester United and Liverpool, who are both in the same market searching for midfielders.
However, should Chelsea turn towards Caicedo in January or the summer they know that Brighton will drive a tough negotiation, with Liverpool reportedly seeing their bid for the player fall short of the £62m valuation.
The answer to Fernandez's alternative should a deal fail to materialise may still lie on the south coast, however, with the Times writing that Alexis Mac Allister is another player they could turn to.
He only signed a new deal at the AAMEX Stadium earlier this year and also stood out for Lionel Scaloni's side in Qatar as a World Cup winner. There would be heavy competition for Mac Allister too though, with Tottenham, Arsenal and Juventus all interested in signing him in 2023.
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