Chelsea already have a deal in place to sign Enzo Fernandez’s dream replacement

Chelsea may be looking forward to Xabi Alonso’s tenure, but it has undoubtedly been a difficult season for the Blues, who have sacked Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior and finished the Premier League season in tenth place.

There will be no European football for Chelsea next season, although this affords Alonso the luxury of rest and recovery, two key attributes that are increasingly scarce at top-flight football clubs in today’s climate.

Manchester United’s success in the latter part of the season is proof of how a reduced calendar can bring benefits to a team looking to make a fresh start.

But Chelsea cannot afford for this to happen again. They need to bounce back, even stars like Enzo Fernandez angle to get out.

How Chelsea can replace Enzo Fernandez

Fernandez is the definition of a big game player, and while he has had a run at Chelsea over the years since joining Benfica for £105m, the 25-year-old has been a force to be reckoned with during a difficult time.

But it sounds like the captain may have reached the end of the road. Manchester City, soon to be led by Enzo Maresca, are interested in signing him this summer, with Fabrizio Romano confirming that talks are ongoing.

It goes without saying that replacing him will be difficult, especially since the Blues can’t offer a target to transfer European football quickly. That said, Alonso’s project promises to be a success, and forced creativity could finally pay off for the Londoners.

Indeed, it has been confirmed that Strasbourg playmaker Valentin Barco is on his way to Chelsea, who will reportedly sign when the transfer window opens. The ex-Brighton left-back has gone from strength to strength in midfield and has a deal to move to Stamford Bridge.

Despite interest from Germany’s top club, the 21-year-old wants to stay in the BlueCo project, with his midfield style likely to be seen as Fernandez heading for an exit.

Why Barco could be Chelsea’s new Fernandez

Barco will be joined by Emmanuel Emegha in leaving Strasbourg and joining Chelsea this summer, having already shown that he is capable of forming intelligent links with the centre-forward.

In a handful of Premier League appearances with the Seagulls in 2023/24, it was clear that young Barco needed to develop his skills elsewhere. Still, he showed enough on the south coast to suggest he has the potential to become a Premier League star, and he could now see that goal through Chelsea.

Although Chelsea do not have European football to look forward to, it is inevitable that several stars – such as Fernandez – will push for a summer move, thus wiping the slate clean and allowing Alonso to build a united team, in concert and working towards a common goal.

And yet, Barco’s performances in Ligue 1 this year point to a talent that could eventually surpass that of Fernandez, who is four years older.

Obviously, we don’t recommend Barco as a more complete midfielder than Fernandez at this point. The Argentine star is one of the best in the business, almost reduced to his talismanic, world-class status at Stamford Bridge.

But you can certainly see why BlueCo moved to get this deal over the line, acquiring a naturally talented and controversial player described as “pure quality” in football by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Barco could be a stronger and more secure defensive force than his big-money compatriot, with a flair and intelligence in his game that Alonso will enjoy.