Chelsea will need to move quickly if they want to sign Sporting CP star Manuel Ugarte after Paris Saint-Germain made their strong interest in the 22-year-old known. The deep-lying midfielder has impressed while playing in Portugal this season and looks set to secure a huge move this summer.
The Blues were showing a keen interest in signing the Uruguay international, but they may have been beaten to the bench by PSG. According to the reliable paper Record in Portugal, Ugarte is close to joining PSG after the French club made a €60million (£51m) bid which meets his release clause.
Terms of the deal are said to have already been discussed, with Premier League clubs aware, according to Fabrizio Romano. The exact profile that Chelsea are looking for in midfield is someone able to cover ground quickly and read the game from a deeper position, with Romeo Lavia and Declan Rice two names joining Ugarte on the wish list.
READ MORE: Mauricio Pochettino picks £130m striker as top Chelsea transfer target to solve major issue
Of course, Chelsea need to sign a top class midfielder but it is also is important to ensure their abilities help get the best out of Enzo Fernandez. The World Cup winner has mostly been deployed at the base of the midfield but he is more than capable of playing in an advanced role.
In his final press conference as Chelsea interim boss Frank Lampard sent a clear message to Mauricio Pochettino regarding Fernandez. "My personal view of Enzo is he can play probably in all of the midfield roles," said Lampard.
"I think seeing him train and play and getting the feeling from him that he probably has more to offer than to be a single six, as much as he can play as a double-six where he can join into the game more, play as an eight where he can join the game more and offer the really good attributes he's got across his game.
"That's my personal opinion, I've not asked him the question. In my time here, it's been a fact that he's been the most natural six out of a midfield that doesn't have so many natural sixes in my opinion.
"Going forward, I think he can join into the game more, we saw little bits of it against Manchester City where he played in the double-six. He ended up higher up the pitch, he's got a really good eye to play forward. At the minute it's something we as a team, as club have not been doing enough in my opinion.
"Playing forward and being more direct in our game higher up the pitch, finding passes that really test the opposition - Enzo can play that pass, so being up the pitch is a good thing."
Who is your Chelsea player of the season? Have your say by voting below!
READ NEXT:
Chelsea handed triple Victor Osimhen transfer update with £52m worry and major Bayern hint
Latest Chelsea injury news as eight miss Man United amid Frank Lampard's Joao Felix boost
Predicted Chelsea starting lineup vs Man United as Mudryk, Madueke, Chukwuemeka contend for XI
Mauricio Pochettino identifies £130m-star as primary target as Chelsea prepare PSG transfer raid
Chelsea news and transfers LIVE: All the latest updates from Stamford Bridge
