January 25th 2025.
According to recent reports, Real Madrid is making a surprising move to sign Chelsea's star player, Enzo Fernandez. The 24-year-old midfielder was signed by Chelsea for a staggering fee of £107 million after his World Cup victory with Argentina in 2022, making him the most expensive player in Premier League history.
Initially, Fernandez struggled to live up to expectations under coaches Graham Potter and Mauricio Pochettino. However, under the guidance of Enzo Maresca, he has become a key player in the team, alongside Moises Caicedo. In the absence of Reece James, Fernandez has even taken on the role of team captain.
His contributions have been vital in Chelsea's pursuit of a top-four spot, and he will be looking to add more to his tally of three goals and eight assists when the team takes on Manchester City this Saturday. With his impressive form and record-breaking transfer fee, it seems unlikely that Fernandez will leave Stamford Bridge anytime soon. However, recent reports from South America suggest that Real Madrid is highly interested in acquiring his services, even though they are not willing to pay a transfer fee.
Instead, Real Madrid is looking to negotiate a player swap deal, with Aurelien Tchouameni being the player they want to bring in from Chelsea. Tchouameni, who played for France in the World Cup final against Fernandez's Argentina, joined Real Madrid from Monaco in 2022 for an initial fee of £67 million. Despite winning both La Liga and the Champions League, Tchouameni has become frustrated with his current role at Real Madrid, as manager Carlo Ancelotti often deploys him as a center-back instead of his preferred defensive midfield position.
However, it is yet to be seen if Chelsea has any interest in Tchouameni, who is known for his defensive skills rather than his attacking prowess like Fernandez. Some have even questioned the quality of Fernandez, with former Liverpool player Graeme Souness criticizing not only him but some of his teammates as well. In a previous interview, Souness stated that he believes there will be a significant amount of player wastage at Chelsea, and many will not reach the expected levels of performance. He specifically mentioned Fernandez, who was signed for a record-breaking amount, but has yet to prove his worth in the team.
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