Chelsea already have advantage for £52m star that could unleash Enzo Fernandez in transfer repeat
Chelsea transfer news: Mauricio Pochettino has the opportunity to activate a significant release clause for the ideal teammate for Enzo Fernandez this summer.
The task of figuring out how to get the most out of Enzo Fernandez will be one of Mauricio Pochettino’s first priorities at Chelsea. He has excelled across the midfield after appearing in every game since joining the club in January, but there is still a sense that much more is to come.
The 22-year-old has two assists to his name, both beautiful passes behind unaware Premier League defenses, and has adapted to life in England with ease. He ranks third for progressive passes per 90 among players who have participated in more than 10 games, only behind Jorginho and Oleksandr Zinchenko.
He has an astonishingly long pass distance considering his inexperience in the league and is among the top 10 players for players with the most passes completed per 90. Additionally, he is not yet a member of an effective group, a stable team, or in his ideal circumstance.
The World Cup champion is easily characterized as a younger version of Jorginho who can control play from the base of the midfield, but he is ideally suited to a more advanced position where he can loft and clip the ball for his forwards to sprint onto. The performances as a player more akin to a quarterback have remained strong.
It becomes even more crucial for Pochettino to have him in a job that is comfortable for him. When given the flexibility to move freely in a double pivot or work independently in complex areas, Fernandez performs at his best. Fernandez’s efficacy is marginally diminished in the absence of a partner who can perform additional defensive labor.
Fernandez isn’t a natural match for the position, particularly for Pochettino, who like to have a defensive midfielder drop into center-back when they split on the ball. But because of his daring, determination, and brilliance, Pochettino will admire this player.
When it comes to maximizing his potential, Chelsea is apparently ready to compete with Liverpool and Aston Villa for a player they both know. Sporting CP’s Manuel Ugarte is reportedly one of the players under consideration this summer, according to the Portuguese publication Record.
The 22-year-old is a physical specimen for his age and made his Fenix debut at age 15, making him the youngest player to compete in Uruguay’s top division this century. He has let Ruben Amorim’s consistently impressive side grow alongside more daring players.
His ability to recover the ball in central areas has made him a true destroyer in the center of the park. One of his main tasks is to fill in as a defensive cog and free up others to advance farther. He is drawing interest from all around the continent thanks to a $60 million (£52.1 million) release clause.
Although it is claimed that Villa have “taken notes” on him, the Blues may have an advantage given their recent success in Portugal. After spending time talking to Jorge Mendes, the agent who will be in charge of Ugarte’s summer business, Todd Boehly has already gotten to know the league.
Boehly has also made attempts to acquire a number of Portuguese clubs as part of Chelsea’s new multi-club consortium. Before Behdad Eghbali moved to expedite a deal, they were locked into negotiations for Fernandez during the winter. All of this creates an opportunity for the Blues to sign Ugarte in this situation and provide Fernandez with the ideal teammate under Pochettino.