Sport

This summer will be a scramble to sign world class midfielders

Chelsea recognised their desperate need for a new central midfielder and paid a Premier League-record transfer fee to sign one. Enzo Fernandez swapped Benfica for Stamford Bridge on transfer deadline and made his debut for his new team in the goalless draw against Fulham. The Blues hope Fernandez will be a key player for them for years to come.

This could prove to be the precursor to a scramble for world class central midfielders this summer. Chelsea aren’t the only elite level club that needed a new central operator – the only difference is they landed their top target. Across the Premier League and Europe, there are several clubs waiting to enter the market.

Jude Bellingham is of interest to essentially every elite level club in Europe. The youngster was one of England’s best performers at the 2022 World Cup and has been strongly linked with both Liverpool and Real Madrid for a long time – there’s no doubting Bellingham would significantly improve either team.

Manchester City could also be in the market for a new central midfielder at the end of the season with Kevin de Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan both now over the age of 30 and into the twilight of their careers. Pep Guardiola’s high-pressing approach needs energy in the centre of the pitch and Bellingham would certainly provide that.

Bellingham was a target for Manchester United when he was a Birmingham City player and they could make another sales pitch to the England international this summer, although Erik Ten Hag might prefer to make another bid for Frenkie de Jong who would be the perfect ball-carrier for the team he’s building at Old Trafford.

Moises Caicedo is another central midfielder who could be on the move this summer. The Brighton player was the subject of strong interest from Arsenal in January and while the Gunners shifted focus to sign Jorginho, that doesn’t mean they won’t return for the Ecuadorian international when the window opens again.

Liverpool and Manchester City would also be strengthened by the addition of a top quality two-way midfielder like Caicedo. Brighton refused to buckle in their valuation of Caicedo in January, but could be more open to doing a deal in the summer when they would have more time and freedom to find a suitable replacement.

Then there’s Declan Rice. The 24-year-old will have just 12 months left on his West Ham contract by the time the summer window opens and there is a growing sense he will finally take the next step in his career after much speculation and discussion about his future. Rice was forthright in his ambition to play at the highest possible level at the World Cup.

“One hundred per cent I want to play in the Champions League,” he said. “For the last two or three years I’ve been saying that. I’ve been playing consistently well for my club and I feel like I really want to keep pushing. I see my friends here who are playing Champions League and for big trophies. You only get one career and at the end you want to look back at what you’ve won and the biggest games you’ve played in.”

Arsenal are reportedly preparing to enter the race to sign Rice with Chelsea and Manchester United also thought to be interested. Now 24, Rice finds himself at a career crossroads and must make the right move to fulfil his potential as one of the best players in his position in the Premier League.

The €120m paid by Chelsea for Fernandez makes greater sense when compared to the fees rival clubs will inevitably play for comparable players this summer. The Argentine won’t be the last to join a new club for big money. In fact, Fernandez’s transfer could mark the start of an accelerated market for midfielders.