BlueCo exploring move to sign £100m Premier League star

After a quite disastrous campaign for Chelsea that saw them cycle through three different managers, the future promises brighter times under Xabi Alonso.

There has been a reassurance that the Spaniard will have more of a say in the transfer market than his predecessors which should be music to the ears of supporters.

Indeed, the Blues’ record in the transfer market since Todd Boehly and Co entered the building has been mixed to say the least. For every Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo, there has been a Liam Delap, a Jamie Gittens, and an Alejandro Garnacho.

With a lot of their signings, Chelsea have not moved the needle. They’ve stood still while others, notably Arsenal, have taken big steps forward.

So, who could Alonso’s first signing be?

Chelsea line up big-money midfield move

One of the first orders of business for the new manager to addres will be the future of Enzo Fernandez.

It’s growing increasingly likely that the Argentine has played his last game as Chelsea player with interest emerging from the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester City.

The Blues are reportedly demanding a £120m fee and if that is the case, perhaps his exit from Stamford Bridge is not as likely as first feared.

Either way, the recruitment team and Alonso will be doing their due diligence on potential midfield replacements and a few already stand out. Last week, it was reported that Chelsea had discussed Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes with Newcastle United.

However, also on their radar is Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton and Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson.

That’s according to Dean Jones who reporting for Flash Score revealed that Wharton has been scouted numerous times by Chelsea throughout the season and that they are one of the strongest contenders for his signature.

In the case of Anderson, it’s noted that Chelsea have explored the idea of prising the England international away from the City Ground. Sadly, like many suitors, they appear to be resigned to the fact that he is likely heading to Manchester City.

Why Anderson could be Chelsea’s new Caicedo

There are not many good things to happen during the Boehly era but the signing of Ecuador midfielder Caicedo from Brighton will go down as a roaring success story.

Seemingly on the verge of signing for Liverpool, the west Londoners stole in and signed him for a jaw-dropping £115m instead. Until last summer when Florian Wirtz (£116m) and Alexander Isak (£125m) headed to Anfield, he was the most expensive player in Premier League history.

While Caicedo may not be as eye-catching as a mega-money forward, he has certainly been worth the expenditure. He has established himself as one of the best midfielders in the land, ranking in the top 2% of positionally similar players in Europe’s top five leagues this season for tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes. He makes 4.67 per 90.

In the Premier League this term, no midfielder at the Bridge made more than his 2.79 tackles per 90 while he also won 5.04 ground duels per 90, the most in the squad.

As a result, there is a lot for Anderson to live up to. Yet, valued somewhere in and around a £100m fee, just as Caicedo was at Brighton, it would mark a similar move.

In the words of England boss Thomas Tuchel, he is “one of the best midfielders in the Premier League” and he has achieved that all while playing for a mid-table club. Caicedo was earning similar plaudits when he was with the Seagulls.

What makes him so special? Well, the Forest superstar may not make as many tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes, completing 2.38 per 90, he is a machine in the middle of the park.

Like Chelsea’s Ecuardorian superstar, Anderson is a dogged and fierce battler. He’s an immenseley hard worker and gets through a ridiculous amount of defensive actions per game. Only Manuel Ugarte (14.5) completed more defensive contributions per game than the England man (13.9) in the Premier League this term.

What sets the 23-year-old apart from his peers is just how well-rounded his game is. Like Caicedo, he’s capable of influencing play in the final third too. The Forest star contributed four goals and five assists as Forest narrowly avoided the drop. By way of comparison, Caicedo managed three goals and a solitary assist.

In terms of their role, they differ. Chelsea’s current midfielder sits a little deeper while Anderson is more of a box-to-box presence. That means they could well thrive together.

Can you imagine that? Opposition attacks would be sniffed out with absolute ease if Alonso’s pivot was made up of these two aggressive midfielders.