Chelsea don't appear to have ruled out signing either Brighton star Moises Caicedo or Benfica's Enzo Fernandez as the need for a quality central midfielder remains. Despite signing six players in the January transfer window, with Noni Madueke the latest to arrive at Stamford Bridge, the Blues are yet to recruit in a position that to many should be the priority.
Todd Boehly looked on the verge of signing Fernandez, but his £106million release clause proved to be a major stumbling block in negotiations. Subsequently Benfica grew tired of Chelsea's attempts to sign their World Cup winner with low cash plus player offers as opposed to paying the release clause.
Brighton duo Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister, who played alongside Fernandez in Qatar, emerged as the back up plan with Graham Potter eyeing a potential reunion with two players he brought to England.
