- Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia took Argentine’s place in midfield for 1-1 draw
- Fernandez won the World Cup in 2022 and has since made 75 apps for Chelsea
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Two of Europe’s biggest sides are keeping tabs on Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez as the Argentinian star struggles to insert himself into the plans of manager Enzo Maresca.
The Blues have been a resurgent force this season, finding themselves in fourth place with 18 points in 10 matches, after slumping to sixth last season and enduring a chaotic summer.
Their form was checked somewhat by a Manchester United side who had faced a week of chaos to top even their high standards, after they sacked Erik ten Hag and swiftly recruited Sporting Lisbon’s Ruben Amorim, only to be forced to rely on interim Ruud van Nistelrooy on Sunday thanks to Amorim’s long notice period.
World Cup-winning star Fernandez has struggled for form this campaign and was snubbed for the weekend’s 1-1 draw at Old Trafford in favour of midfield duo Moises Caicedo and Roméo Lavia, making it three substitute appearances in a row.
Now it appears that Champions League giants are gearing up to exploit the uncertainty over the 23-year-old’s place in the Chelsea side, The Sun reports.
Two of Europe’s biggest sides are ‘keeping tabs on Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez’
The out-of-favour midfielder joined Chelsea in January 2023 for £106.8 million hot off the back of a memorable World Cup win for Argentina in Qatar but has lost his place in the side
The Argentinian star is struggling to insert himself into the plans of manager Enzo Maresca
Inter Milan and Barcelona are leading the charge with both sides believed to be keen to add Fernandez’s quality into their midfield.
The Argentine is reportedly ready to earn back his place in Maresca’s starting 11 but is not prepared to spend a long time on the sidelines at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea rescued a point against the Red Devils after Bruno Fernandes opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the second-half.
Just five minutes later, the away side levelled up the tight contest thanks to a bullet volley from Caicedo after the ball spilled loose from a corner.
The Ecuadorian had been picked alongside Lavia for his physicality and composure in the middle of the park, and the pair allowed Chelsea to get a grip on a tough away game against a determined United.
Ahead of the clash, Maresca said: ‘They are human beings and if you pay £100m that is not my problem.
‘You want to buy me then you pay that money. That does not mean that every game you have to be the best. At the end of the day they are football players and they cannot always be at the top level.
‘At this moment Enzo is not playing but there is no problem with Enzo. The noise about Enzo is because clubs pay so much money for them, people expect they will always be the best. That is not so.
The Blues have been a resurgent force this season, finding themselves in fourth place with 18 points in 10 matches
Their form was checked somewhat by a Manchester United side who have endured a week of chaos and were led by Ruud van Nistelrooy
Bruno Fernandes’s penalty put Manchester United ahead in the second-half of a tight clash
Moises Caicedo secured a point for Chelsea after they had fallen behind at Old Trafford
‘The only reason he is not playing is just because the physicality I prefer is from Caicedo and Romeo Lavia.’
Following the game, Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp weighed in on Maresca’s selection headache.
‘When he first signed it was a difficult time but now you’re seeing the real Caicedo that was at Brighton,’ he said.
‘I thought he was different class today. I don’t think the balance with him and Enzo Fernandez is right.’
Fellow pundit and former Chelsea boss Frank Lampard added: ‘You need extra players, you need a squad. People’s eyes were on Enzo Fernandez.
‘Lavia can see a pass. Fernandez will have to work hard to get back into the team.’
The out-of-favour midfielder joined Chelsea in January 2023 for £106.8 million hot off the back of a memorable World Cup win for Argentina in Qatar.
He has since made 75 appearances for a Blues side which has gone through a number of transition periods, starting his spell under Graham Potter before being coached by interim boss Lampard for the rest of a disappointing first season.
Mauricio Pochettino then took charge of the team last campaign before Maresca assumed the role this summer.
Caicedo scored the equaliser in a man of the match display at Old Trafford on Sunday and is keeping Fernandez out of the side
Meanwhile, Romeo Lavia (pictured, centre, with Maresca, left, and Caicedo in the background) is finally building up a run of starts
Jamie Redknapp believes Caicedo is now delivering his Brighton form at Chelsea
Frank Lampard claimed Fernandez will now face a fight to return to the starting XI
Caicedo and Lavia both joined in the summer of 2023, providing immediate competition for Fernandez which the Argentinian has, until now, held off.
Belgian star Lavia has appeared just seven times for the Blues while his Ecuadorian teammate has played 60 matches for the club, although many of them off the bench.
Fernandez has now been left among the substitutes for three consecutive games, including the away defeat to Liverpool and the home win over Newcastle, and Lavia has been the beneficiary, finally building up a run of starts.