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How Chelsea Could Lineup With Enzo, Mudryk, Felix, And Kante This Season, If Signed
Chelsea remains in pursuit of acquiring Enzo Fernandez before the January transfer window deadline and has resumed negotiations with Benfica regarding the Argentine World Cup winner.
Chelsea has proposed to pay Benfica the full £106m release clause in installments or £88m upfront plus a player. A swift agreement is necessary for Chelsea owner Todd Boehly to secure Fernandez’s signing before the transfer window closes on Tuesday at 11 PM. If Fernandez joins, it may impact Jorginho’s role, as the 22-year-old is likely to become a regular starter under coach Graham Potter.
The lineup options discussed here depend on the fitness of all players and could change based on injuries, form, or tactical decisions. The first lineup mentioned is a 3-4-3 formation with a midfield trio of Fernandez, Kante, and Kovacic and a front three of Felix, Havertz, and Mudryk. The backline consists of Arrizabalaga, James, Fofana, Silva, and Chilwell. The alternative lineup is a 3-4-1-2 formation with Fernandez and Jorginho in central midfield, and other options including Gallagher, Loftus-Cheek, Zakaria, and Chukwuemeka.
This lineup involves Mendy as the starting goalkeeper with a back three of Chalobah, Koulibaly, and Badiashile. Azpilicueta would play at right wing-back and either Hall or Cucurella would play on the left side. Mount may play as the No. 10 with Aubameyang and either Fofana or Sterling in attack. Additionally, Pulisic, Ziyech, Madueke, and Santos will all compete for playing time.
The 22-year-old wants to move to Chelsea but he has been training and playing since he was dropped for one game by Benfica for going on an unauthorised trip home to Argentina for a New Year’s Eve party.
Fernandez, who won the Best Young Player award at the 2022 World Cup with winners Argentina, played in Saturday’s 3-0 league win at Santa Clara.
Chelsea is seeking to sign new midfielders due to uncertainties over the contracts of Jorginho and N’Golo Kante which expire at the end of the current season. The club has made attempts to sign Moises Caicedo from Brighton and Amadou Onana from Everton.
ENZO FERNÁNDEZ TO CHELSEA UPDATES
After missing the season due to a knee injury, Christopher Nkunku is almost ready to make his Chelsea debut. However, Mauricio Pochettino must decide where the £52 million summer acquisition will fit into an improving team. Nkunku is expected to resume full training soon and may make his debut on Saturday against Newcastle.
His absence caused Chelsea to struggle mightily during the early part of the season, as the Frenchman scored three goals in four games during the preseason tour of the United States, around which Pochettino had built his attack.
Nkunku has returned to an improving Chelsea after eight goals in two games against Tottenham and Manchester City, but he has the ability to step up this onslaught even more.
The easiest method for Nkunku to join the club is to replace Nicolas Jackson as the centre striker.
Jackson’s hat-trick against Tottenham brought his season total of goals scored in 14 games to a respectable seven.
However, he has been uneasy in games vs weaker teams and found it difficult to be the centre of attention when the opposition lined up in a low block.
An entertaining eight-goal thriller at Stamford Bridge comes to an end with both Man City and Chelsea sharing the points after a 4-4 draw.
The game took a while to catch fire, Haaland putting City ahead in the 25th minute from the spot after being hauled down by Cucurella,
Buut Chelsea responded, levelling through Thiago Silva’s header before Sterling scored against his former team to make it 2-1 to the hosts.
Back came City, though, as an unmarked Akanji restored parity with a header in first-half added time before Haaland bundled home his second of the game to put the champions 3-2 up.
Chelsea would again answer through Jackson to make it three goals apiece, but Rodri appeared to net the winner with four minutes left, firing home via a huge deflection off Thiago Silva to put City on the verge of victory.
There would be one final twist, however, as Broja came off the bench to win a penalty after being brought down by Dias before Palmer, against the club whose academy he grew up in, stepped up to fire home from the spot and earn Chelsea a point.
The result moves Chelsea up into the top half, and they will look to continue their upturn in form away at injury-hit Newcastle United next Saturday.
City miss the chance to extend their lead at the summit to three points, and they have a huge home game with Liverpool to look forward to next weekend.
Below is the final EPL Table after Today’s Matches;
In a fascinating English Premier League game on Sunday evening, Chelsea secured a hard-fought 4-4 draw against Manchester City, thanks to a stoppage-time penalty from former City player Cole Palmer.
Chelsea’s positive start was momentarily halted when Marc Cucurella fouled Erling Haaland, who confidently converted the subsequent penalty for his 12th Premier League goal of the season. Undeterred, the Londoners struck back with Thiago Silva’s header and Raheem Sterling’s goal against his former club.
The second half continued the intense action, with Haaland scoring early on. Despite key saves from Robert Sánchez, Nicolas Jackson extended Chelsea’s lead. Rodri’s goal seemed to secure the win for Manchester City, but Rúben Dias’s late foul on Armando Broja led to a dramatic stoppage-time penalty, expertly converted by Palmer.
Chelsea’s resilience maintained their positive form under Mauricio Pochettino, having lost only one of their last eight games across all competitions.
Meanwhile, Manchester City remains unbeaten in six competitive fixtures and sits atop the Premier League table.
Check out the latest Premier League Table below:
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Confirmed Chelsea line up vs Newcastle : Palmer, Jackson, Sterling Start as Nkunku seat on the bench
