Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez faces an unsure future at Stamford Bridge and now Xabi Alonso’s group have been handed a verdict on two potential replacements this summer time
Enzo Fernandez’s days at Chelsea could possibly be numbered (Image: Visionhaus/Getty Images)
Jimmy Floyd-Hasselbaink believes Chelsea will probably be ready to change Enzo Fernandez if the midfielder leaves Stamford Bridge. The former Blues striker has additionally instructed his previous facet ought to goal Manchester United-linked Gavi or Aurelien Tchouameni as a possible substitute.
Manchester City are eager on signing Argentina worldwide Fernandez after Rodri’s swap to La Liga giants Barcelona this summer time. Although Enzo Maresca’s group missed Chelsea’s August 14 deadline to match a £120million asking price, reviews counsel they’re nonetheless ready to submit a late bid.
And the 25-year-old obtained a blended reception at greatest throughout his first pre-season look for Xabi Alonso’s facet on Saturday. Several boos have been heard after he got here on as a substitute through the Blues’ 3-1 win over Real Sociedad last weekend.
It follows him scoring the equaliser on this summer time’s World Cup semi-final win over England. The 25-year-old celebrated by cupping his ears in entrance of supporters.
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Now, Hasselbaink, who made 177 appearances for Chelsea, has spoken completely to soccer.london on what the longer term may maintain for Fernandez in west London.
“Fans are emotional, we all know that,” he mentioned. “Fans want to be heard. When he plays for Chelsea, he’s a different player, he’s a different person than when he plays for Argentina.
“We have all seen how the Argentinian gamers are for Argentina. He’s achieved exceptionally nicely for Argentina and for Chelsea.
“People are allowed to have their own opinion. He made some gestures while playing for Argentina, so he has to understand there will be a backlash because he still plays in England. It is what it is.
“Obviously, the followers weren’t proud of how he carried out himself, however let’s not neglect he’s a hell of a participant. I feel the followers know that, and perceive that, however I feel they’d need him to act with a bit bit extra respect.”
Questions will be asked over how Chelsea can replace a player who made 54 appearances across all competitions last term. Hasselbaink is not too concerned, though and believes either Barcelona star Gavi or Real Madrid’s Tchouameni could be a brilliant replacement.
“He’s a hell of a participant, and he has scored actually vital targets, however I feel you may change him,” he added. “I feel there’s sufficient out there that you may go and get to do a job perhaps otherwise.
“If Fernandez had gone, I would have loved to have seen Youri Tielemans, but he’s already gone to Man United. It would have been a cheap buy. You want somebody in the market who, if Fernandez goes, is a little bit older, 26, 27, coming from a big club. Coming from a Real Madrid or a Barcelona.
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“They’re saying Gavi can go at Barcelona, he did not need to go to Man United. The factor is, while you let Enzo go, and also you get any person else, you may have to play a bit bit in another way, a bit bit like Rodri now with Man City.
“Man City is not going to find another Rodri, so they have to play a little bit differently. The same with Chelsea, if Enzo goes, somebody else will have to fill the slot. By the way, Reece James can do that as well, but he’s not as attacking as Enzo.
“In-house, they have sufficient [Romeo] Lavia, Reece James, they will all do it, however I might suppose if Enzo goes, you’d need to get any person else in as nicely to bolster that midfield. I might love to see Gavi or Aurelien Tchouameni. Obviously, it is gonna price severe cash. I do not know if Chelsea desires to try this, however I might love a kind of two gamers to are available and bolster, as a result of after they come into the dressing room, right away, it is a large participant that is available in. It offers a message to the opposite gamers.”
Chelsea have failed to secure a consistent goalscoring striker for some time. Premier League champions Arsenal have been linked in recent weeks with Victor Osimhen, who netted 22 goals last season for Galatasaray, but Hasselbaink doesn’t necessarily believe the Blues should look to hijack a deal.
The 54-year-old said: “Osimhen is a terrific striker, do not get me fallacious, terrific aim scorer. They have gotten Joao Pedro, who has achieved exceptionally nicely.
“It looks like [Nicolas] Jackson is going. I have always been somebody who really liked Jackson because he puts the defenders on the back foot and does a lot of work and gets a lot of chances. His conversion rate is not as high as the number of chances that he gets, but he gets them, and it’s better to get them than not to get them at all.
“I do not suppose that they want to go on the market to actually get a terrific No.9. It’s all the time useful, however Joan Pedro has proven that he can do it. To carry Osimhen in, how will that have an effect on Joao Pedro? Also, you are not in Europe, so what number of video games are you going to play?
“I think the squad in that area is okay. Don’t get me wrong, Osimhen is a magnificent striker. If they were in the Champions League now, I would say go and get Osimhen.”
While supporters should be hoping for extra incomings, there are nonetheless a number of stars in Alonso’s squad who may depart earlier than the 11pm deadline on September 1. Eyebrows have been raised when Chelsea quoted round £100m for ahead Pedro Neto, who has curiosity from City and Saudi Pro League sides.
When requested if the worth was extortionate, Hasselbaink replied: “No, because Chelsea doesn’t want to sell him. He doesn’t need to go. They didn’t make plans for him to go, so it’s top dollar or Chelsea’s more than happy to keep him.
“He’s any person who pops up with targets. He’s any person who is essential. No Champions League or European soccer, so there does not want to be that a lot rotation, however he’s all the time been within the beginning XI, so I do perceive the place Chelsea is coming from, however all people is for sale, actually, so that they’ve set their value.”
Mykhailo Mudryk, meanwhile, looks more likely to leave. The Ukrainian, an £88.5m signing from Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2023, has been linked with newly-promoted Coventry City – managed by Chelsea legend Frank Lampard.
Asked if the Blues should prioritise talks with Coventry due to the Lampard links, Hasselbaink said: “I feel so. Obviously, Frank is aware of him. Frank has labored with him. I feel it goes each methods. Frank wants a participant like that who’s very fast for the vast majority of the video games.
“With all due respect to Coventry, they’re not going to be dominant, so they’re going to have to play maybe the majority of the games as a counterattacking team. They need quick players, and Mudryk is definitely one of them, but then, from Mudryk’s side, he needs to pick up his career again.
“He wants to go to somebody who understands him and can give him the love and provides him the time as nicely, and get his profession again on monitor. He has gone via so much, so he wants any person who’s going to put his arm round his shoulder and assist him, and I feel. Frank and him already have a relationship, so I can see from each side how that may work very well.”
Jimmy is helping to front a groundbreaking football safety app that tackles online and matchday abuse through real-time reporting. Organisations, leagues, clubs and supporter groups interested in partnership or early adoption can register their interest at www.footballsafetyapp.com.