The answer to Chelsea's midfield issues may well currently be at the World Cup. With both Jorginho and N'Golo Kante remaining in England over the winter - due to injury and Italian failure to qualify - there is scope to scout out new options in Qatar.
As well as Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice, both of whom are in the England camp, and despite the early exit of Christopher Nkunku with his own knock, Todd Boehly and his newly assembled recruitment team will still have plenty to look out for. The Blues promise to be one of the busiest teams in 2023 and could kickstart their activities as soon as January.
With Graham Potter's men facing a tough post-World Cup schedule there is a challenge to sort out the immediate short term and also secure a safer passage towards stability in the future. Part of that comes through improving the midfield, a position that hasn't been strengthened with a permanent deal since 2018.
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It's an in-demand area of the pitch though and there are no guarantees that Rice or Bellingham play in blue next year. Although Chelsea will chase these players, there are other back-up plans and one of those comes in the form of Argentina starlet Enzo Fernandez.
The 21-year-old has been one of the most impressive in his position over the last 12-months and has seen his stock rise massively after a stellar Champions League campaign. His world class strike against Mexico on matchday two of the group stage was evidence of his talent. Although Lionel Messi is the cover star of this team, Fernandez can often be a driver of the tempo.
Chelsea, like Liverpool and Real Madrid, have joined the race to sign the Benfica man according to Spanish outlet Sport. He won't come cheap though, with Fabrizio Romano reporting his major release clause. "The release clause included into Enzo Fernández contract with Benfica is worth €120m (£103.3m)," he tweeted. "Club has no intention to sell Enzo or let him leave in January."
Fernandez, like Bellingham and Rice, won't be an easy deal to complete and the Blues will be heavily pushed by other teams too, but their intention to keep pursuing the best young talent available doesn't look like it's going to be knocked.
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