Chelsea could see their midfield transformed this summer with £180 million worth of arrivals under new manager Xabi Alonso. Former British record transfer Enzo Fernandez may also wave goodbye to Stamford Bridge as the club looks to revamp its core.
Disappointing Season and Managerial Changes
The west London side are currently licking their wounds after a disappointing season. Chelsea will not play European football next term after finishing 10th in the Premier League, with both Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior losing their jobs throughout the campaign. It will be former Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid boss Alonso who will take the reins in July. The Spaniard will be aiming to catapult his new team back towards the top-flight table's summit.
Fernandez's Potential Departure
With Fernandez looking as though he could depart, Chelsea's core could soon undergo a revamp. It has been reported that the Argentine ace has informed Chelsea he wants to leave the club, just three years after they shelled out a then-record £106 million for his services. The 25-year-old has only just finished runner-up in the club's player of the season award and bagged 15 goals in the campaign just gone. If he is to depart, with his asking price supposedly set above the £100 million mark, he will take some replacing.
Alonso's Formation and Current Stars
Under Alonso, it is expected that Chelsea will operate in a 3-4-2-1 formation, with a double midfield pivot and two attacking No. 10s. If Fernandez is sold, in an ideal world, they should recruit two new midfielders. Moises Caicedo, purchased for £115 million in 2023, is irreplaceable in the middle of the park and fits Alonso's right-sided, more defensive pivot like a glove. This position is tasked with counter-pressing and being a physical, recovering presence in the midfield. The club also already possess Cole Palmer, who, despite missing out on England's World Cup squad and enduring a difficult season, still should not be ousted from the starting XI. He can operate as the right-sided 10, allowed to roam, find pockets and create chances.
Dream Recruits: Wharton and Rogers
In the transfer market, two new stars are needed: one to play in the double pivot and another, a more direct, powerful No. 10. Adam Wharton and Morgan Rogers fit the bill. Wharton, who has shone for Crystal Palace, could leave the south London side this summer for a reported £80 million and is in demand. But Chelsea should do all they can to snap him up, as he is perfect for Alonso's system. At Bayer Leverkusen, Granit Xhaka starred as this left-footed deep playmaker who opened up passing angles and dictated tempo. Wharton is tailored to the role and would slot seamlessly alongside Caicedo. Rogers would then round off this dream midfield at Stamford Bridge. The Aston Villa star, who is currently away with the Three Lions for World Cup 2026, helped guide his team to Europa League glory this term and is one of the Premier League's finest young talents. The 23-year-old is also reportedly on Arsenal's radar but could give Alonso an explosive, direct inside forward next to international team-mate Palmer. He has an alleged £100 million-plus price tag, but if Fernandez is sold, this would likely be no issue.
Depth and Options
Depth is already provided with player of the season Joao Pedro able to drop back into a deep-lying No. 10 role and Estevao and Pedro Neto able to offer pace off the bench. In the pivot, Romeo Lavia and Andrey Santos are solid back-up options. Chelsea's dream midfield could thus be: Wharton, Caicedo; Rogers, Palmer.
