Casemiro or Frenkie de Jong? That could now be the key question on the table for Todd Boehly and Chelsea as we approach crunch time in the summer transfer window. With their still a stalemate with trying to prise De Jong out of Barcelona amid the ongoing contractual dispute, there is now a realistic chance that the Blues could end the summer window without a new midfielder.
This could prove to be quite problematic with both N'Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic now sidelined with different injuries ahead of Leeds United. Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Conor Gallagher can fill short-term but none of the pair would be a natural defensive-minded midfielder like Chelsea's number 7 is to Thomas Tuchel's set-up.
READ MORE: Chelsea 'revive £51m Aurelien Tchouameni back-up plan' to hijack Man United's Casemiro transfer
No wonder Real Madrid's Casemiro has now come into the question. With Sporting Lisbon's Matheus Nunes having his Wolves move confirmed, that is yet another option off the table.
Therefore 90min have indicated that Chelsea are now serious alongside Man Utd in trying to complete a late swoop for the Brazilian who has fallen down the pecking order in Spain with Aurelien Tchouameni and Edouardo Camavinga displacing the 30-year-old with their emergence.
It is understood that a hefty figure of £51m will be required for Los Blancos to seriously consider parting ways with a player who has been so vital to so many successes over the years at Santiago Bernabeu.
With all taken into consideration with De Jong seeming more unlikely by the day, football.london previews Chelsea's best midfield set-up if Casemiro were to sign.
Currently, with both Kante and Kovacic out, despite them probably being better players than Jorginho on their days, it would be most sensible to pair Casemiro with the Italian.
Jorginho has started the season well and the pre-season break has seemingly helped recharge his batteries. Casemiro would provide the defensive cover Kante does to the pair.
With Jorginho showing that he isn't as injury prone as the other current aforementioned midfielders, the formation of a partnership between him and Real Madrid's number 14 would be a consistent one with injury histories taken into account. Plus this would allow extra time for Kante and Kovacic to recover.
Alternatively, if manager Thomas Tuchel shifted to a midfield three formation, one of the pair would be able to join Casemiro and Jorginho in forming a formidable three.
Once they (Kante and Kovacic) are back, then they can fully compete to dislodge the Blues' number 5. As a result of a new midfielder coming in, one of Conor Gallagher or Ruben Loftus-Cheek may be granted a loan move.
Best midfield pairing in the short-term: Casemiro, Jorginho.
Substitute options: N'Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic, Conor Gallagher, Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
Chelsea fans- if you could only choose one from Casemiro or Frenkie de Jong to sign before the summer transfer window deadline, who would you pick and why?
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