Chelsea’s transfer plan after Granit Xhaka blow revealed and £50m deal agreed

A detailed look at Chelsea’s midfield department with plenty of uncertainty around who Xabi Alonso will have to choose from in that area by the time the summer transfer window closes

Chelsea are still in the market for a new central midfielder this summer after failing in their pursuit to sign Granit Xhaka.

Stamford Bridge insiders insist the Blues are not giving up in their attempts to bring a new face into the engine room and have a long list of targets under consideration. Sources close to the club told football.london towards the back end of the 2025/26 campaign that a new central midfield option was among numerous targets heading into the summer transfer window – and, a few months on, that remains the case.

Adam Wharton, as widely reported, has been on the club’s radar for quite some time now, though there are fears over how much the Crystal Palace midfielder would cost in today’s inflated market.

Xabi Alonso and the club’s sporting leadership team are considering their options at the time of writing in relation to the midfield, even with Valentin Barco expected to arrive from Strasbourg. While there has been no official confirmation of the transfer from Chelsea’s side, the Argentina international is expected to become a Blues player once the World Cup is over.

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Barco will provide an option for Alonso in the middle of the park as well as a left-sided full back. Moises Caicedo is set to once again anchor the midfield with the Ecuadorian front and centre of Chelsea’s long-term plans – emphasised by the club’s decision to reward him with fresh terms on his contract towards the back end of last season.

Andrey Santos, meanwhile, is on his way out of Chelsea. Manchester United have agreed a £50million total package (£48m up front and £2m in add-ons) with the Blues to sign Santos on a long-term contract. The west Londoners have inserted a 10% sell-on clause in the deal.

Newcastle United were also admirers of Santos, who was in and out of the Chelsea first team in his debut season last time around, but United seem to have won the race..

Romeo Lavia is currently doing some individual work behind the scenes as he prepares for a crucial pre-season under Alonso. The Belgian will be desperate to make a strong first impression at Stamford Bridge, while Enzo Fernandez remains at the World Cup with Argentina after the reigning champions progressed, dramatically, into the last eight of the competition.

Fernandez has a £120m price tag attached to him for potential suitors. Real Madrid, at one point, were understood to be a potential suitor but have since pulled themselves out of the Fernandez transfer saga after releasing an official club statement saying the Spanish club have “no intention” of pursuing a move for the Argentina international this summer.

Stamford Bridge sources are relaxed about the 25-year-old’s situation. They insist there is an expectation Fernandez will be wearing Chelsea blue next season despite all of the speculation surrounding the Argentine’s name and the fact he wants to depart in the next couple of months.

It remains to be seen whether Dario Essugo will be part of Alonso’s plans next season or whether the west Londoners may feel the Portuguese midfielder is better suited for a loan elsewhere. Essugo, whose debut season in England was heavily disrupted by injury problems, may see his opportunities limited – especially if Chelsea sign another midfielder – in the first team next term and with no European football, a lack of minutes could be detrimental to the 21-year-old’s development.