Parisian rumours 

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Chelsea’s season hasn’t exactly gone to plan. The Stamford Bridge side currently sit eighth in the Premier League table with just one win in their last eight games across all competitions. Amidst the tepid performances on the pitch, the club also parted ways with head coach Enzo Maresca, following a public spat between the manager and his employers over the club’s transfer policy. The Italian tactician was quickly replaced with Strasbourg boss Liam Rosenior, but that has done little to quell discontent among fans of the club. And it seems as though Chelsea’s biggest stars may also be considering their options in 2026.

Rumour
	E. Fernández
	Central Midfield
Chelsea ? PSG Premier League Ligue 1

According to a new report in French publication L’Equipe, Paris Saint-Germain have identified Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernández as a key transfer target. The report notes that the Ligue 1 giants are unlikely to make a move for the Argentina World Cup winner this month, but could make a serious push for Fernández in the summer transfer window. Fernández made the move to Chelsea from Benfica in January 2023 for what was at the time the second highest transfer fee paid by an English club and the club’s record transfer fee. So could the midfielder be tempted with a move to the French capital in the summer?

Although Fernández has been a regular starter for Chelsea since he joined the club, few would begrudge the 24-year-old talent for wondering whether this current iteration of the club is serious about winning major silverware. Since making the move to Stamford Bridge, Fernández’s side have finished 12th, 6th and 4th in the league, but remain someway off a top-four spot at this moment in time. Fernández does have a Conference League winners medal to hang in his trophy cabinet, but that alone doesn’t offer much solace for a player with clear intentions of being one of the best midfielders in the world. As such, PSG and their constant pursuit of Champions League success may be an enticing offer for the Chelsea star.

But why are PSG suddenly interested in Fernández? After all, the Ligue 1 giants can lay claim to some of the best midfielders in the world in the form of João Neves, Vitinha and Fabián Ruiz, not to mention young talent Warren Zaïre-Emery. “Yes, PSG are looking to strengthen their midfield, after failing to do so last summer,” said Transfermarkt Ligue 1 expert Lucas Hybord, when asked about the club’s interest in the Chelsea star. “ Luis Enrique thought they didn’t need to, but with Achraf Hakimi on the sideline for two months and Zaire Emery backing up at right-back, PSG only have three strong proper midfields to play with. Désiré Doué, Senny Mayulu or Kang-in Lee could play there too if needed, but the first one for instance was also injured for a while this season.”

Alongside the club’s struggles to contend with injuries and Enrique’s midfielders filling in the gaps elsewhere in the team, there’s also constant speculation over the future of the aforementioned midfield trio that Fernández would be competing with for game time next season. “There were rumours about Vitinha and Real Madrid lately,” added Hybord, when asked about potential departures from PSG in the summer. Speculation also surrounds Ruiz too, who is constantly being linked with either a move away from the club or a new contract, depending on the report. But Hybord believes there will be plenty for Fernández to do next season, even if the Parisian club don’t sell any star midfielders in the summer. “I can see Fernández replacing Ruiz or Neves in the starting XI,” said the Ligue 1 expert. “But I also think Enrique wouldn’t complain to have four potential starters for three spots to cover injuries, suspensions and simply the length of a season.”