Chelsea secures Enzo Fernández and declares him a franchise player

With the start of the transfer market just around the corner, Chelsea continues its efforts to keep Enzo Fernández amid rumors linking him with Real Madrid.

In line with this, in recent hours the Blues have designated him as a franchise player and stated that "he is non-transferable," making it clear that they have no intention of considering offers for him.

It is important to remember that the London club invested a total of £106.8 million in 2023 to acquire the full transfer of the Golden Boy winner from Qatar 2022.

The interest of the Madrid team in Fernández is not recent, as it is rumored that they have been following him since his time at River. Additionally, although they have already added young talents like Jude Bellingham, Eduardo Camavinga, and Aurélien Tchouaméni, within the Merengue management they believe that the Argentine could be the ideal replacement in the event of Luka Modric's departure.

However, from London they do not seem willing to facilitate his departure, and the statistics support this decision. In most Chelsea matches, he was the player who covered the most distance, exceeding 11 kilometers (6.8 miles) in matches against Manchester City, Everton, and Aston Villa. He has also been key in offense with outstanding assists, surpassing even figures like Martin Ødegaard, Luis Díaz, and Phil Foden in that regard.

Two other world champions on Real Madrid's radar

The Chelsea midfielder is not the only Argentine in Real Madrid's plans. There is also a marked interest in Alexis Mac Allister, current Liverpool player, and Exequiel Palacios, from Bayer Leverkusen.

According to the British media Empire of the Kop, the Merengue leadership is considering making an offer close to €90 million for the Colorado. It should be remembered that Mac Allister has a contract until 2028 and from Liverpool they do not consider a sale for less than €100 million.

Meanwhile, with the arrival of Xabi Alonso as coach, the former River player sees his chances of reaching the White House grow. The Spaniard knows him very well from his time with the German team and knows the potential he can offer.

Moreover, Pala is a player who understands Alonso's playing philosophy very well, which could facilitate a quick adaptation to the white team and make him a valuable asset for the various competitions the team faces.

Nonetheless, there is a significant obstacle that could complicate his transfer to the white team. The midfielder has a contract with the German club until June 30, 2028, and is considered a key piece in the squad. For these reasons, Leverkusen could take advantage of the opportunity for a lucrative sale, although they also have the leeway to close the door to Real Madrid.