Chelsea could be set to rebuild a midfield similar to their sensational pairing of N’Golo Kante and Cesc Fabregas which led the club to Premier League glory in 2017. The duo had the perfect balance of being able to orchestrate attacks from midfield whilst also protecting their backline – and Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo could replicate their success.
Pochettino highlighted his midfield ranks as an area of the squad he needs to develop upon his arrival in the Stamford Bridge dugout. Chelsea had numerous fringe players in that department, though very few were deemed capable of competing at the very top level.
The Blues allowed Mason Mount, Mateo Kovacic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Kai Havertz to depart, whilst also being forced to wave goodbye to Kante – who left as a free agent for Saudi Arabia. Conor Gallagher is also firmly in the shop window as Todd Boehly looks to raise funds for another spending spree.
Chelsea have made Caicedo their top target this summer and negotiations with Brighton are ongoing. The Blues are hoping to strike a deal for approximately £80million for the Ecuador international, though the Seagulls are holding out for £100m due to the precedent set by Declan Rice’s move to Arsenal.
Though, regardless of the price tag, Chelsea could hit the jackpot by bringing in Caicedo – with the 21-year-old appearing to be the ideal candidate to slot into midfield alongside Fernandez and release him of his defensive shackles.
Similarly to Kante, Caicedo thrives due to his immense stamina and willingness to regain possession for his side and drive the ball forward. In Brighton’s system, the emphasis has been on his ability to fuel attacks from deep – and his strengths could complement Fernandez perfectly.
The Argentina international has spoken this summer about his versatility and how he can be deployed in numerous midfield roles, which is largely due to his ability to pick a pass and make an impact when on the ball – like Fabregas during his Premier League days. Thus, Pochettino may feel that a more defensive-minded midfield partner will allow Fernandez to flourish and make the best use of his attacking impact.
With Christopher Nkunku expected to play as a 10 at the top of Chelsea’s midfield diamond, the ex-RB Leipzig star’s willingness to bomb forward could open up plenty of space for Fernandez to make his presence felt in. The 22-year-old scored one and assisted five for Benfica prior to his move to Blues in January, and that was largely due to Rafa Silva’s natural desire to push forward and be an option in the final third, giving Fernandez room to operate in. Replicating a similar system at Chelsea could be a masterstroke by Pochettino.
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