Topics: Real Madrid, Chelsea, Enzo Fernandez, Aurelien Tchouameni, Premier League, La Liga
Real Madrid and Chelsea could be set to strike a ‘swap deal’ involving two players.
Despite the seeming chaos around Stamford Bridge when Enzo Maresca arrived at Chelsea in the summer, they have started the season in decent form – they are currently fifth in the Premier League, six points off league leaders Manchester City.
Several players have fitted into Maresca’s dynamic system, with Cole Palmer, Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo forming an impressive trio in midfield.
However, not everyone is enjoying their time under the Italian’s guidance at Stamford Bridge, and the player in question could be looking for a move if their fortunes do not improve.
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Enzo Fernandez, 23, isn’t particularly favoured by his new manager and has fallen down the pecking order in west London.
Despite captaining the side before Reece James returned to the side against Liverpool on October 21, the 2022 World Cup winner has found his opportunities to be limited this season.
Fernandez has not started in the Blues’ last two Premier League fixtures – against Liverpool and Newcastle United – but he did feature from the start in the 2-0 Carabao Cup defeat to the Magpies on October 30.
However, according to reports from Fichajes, Real Madrid are keen on the Argentinian midfielder, with Los Blancos willing to either pay £84m or offer Aurelien Tchouameni in a ‘swap deal’.
Tchouameni, 24, is also seemingly down the pecking order in the Spanish capital, having also not started Madrid’s last two fixtures – against Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona.
Like Fernandez, who cost Chelsea £106.8m, the 24-year-old was brought in for a hefty price (£83m including potential add-ons), but he has failed to live up to expectations.
Before opting for a switch from Monaco to Madrid, the French international flirted with a move to Liverpool and explained how he watched Premier League football.
“I can watch Spanish games and English games," he told CNN in 2022.
"It's different to play in Spain, and it's different to play in England, but at the end, for me, it's just a matter of adaptation.”
"I'm an ambitious person,” he added.
In his 102 appearances for the 15-time European champions, he has failed to put together a string of impressive performances consistently, and a move could make sense for all parties involved.
However, Carlo Ancelotti waxed lyrical about his midfielder following a La Liga game against Real Betis in September.
"[Aurélien] Tchouaméni is a fantastic defensive midfielder,” he said.
“At a defensive level, he [is] irreplaceable, he helps our defence a lot."
