Enzo Fernandez suspension: Could Chelsea’s midfield crisis benefit Manchester United?

Chelsea are experiencing a crisis in their midfield after recent comments from vice-captain Enzo Fernandez.

Speaking while on international duty, the centre-midfielder commented: “I’d like to live in Spain. I really like Madrid; it reminds me of Buenos Aires.”

The comments naturally caused a massive link to be made over a move to Real Madrid, given the La Liga giants are known to be keeping an eye on him as a summer target.

It also only added fuel to the speculation of him leaving after comments he made in March when he responded to talks of him leaving Chelsea by saying: “There are eight games left and the FA Cup. There’s the World Cup, and then we’ll see.”

Now, in Chelsea’s pre-match press conference ahead of the FA Cup clash with Port Vale, Liam Rosenior has confirmed the Argentina international is set to miss the next two games.

Rosenior explained: “I spoke with Enzo about an hour ago. As a football club, with me as part of the process, we have made a decision.”

He continued: “He won’t be available for tomorrow’s game, and he won’t be available for Manchester City next Sunday.

“I think for Enzo [Fernandez] it’s disappointing to speak in that way.

“What I will say about Enzo is that in terms of him as a character, as a person, I’ve got no bad words to say about him, but I think a line was crossed in terms of our culture and what we want to build.

“So, we had to make a sanction, and that’s the decision we’ve made.”

While at first the comments and the decision doesn’t appear to impact Manchester United immediately, there could be a wide-scale impact on the transfer market and on the pitch.

Chelsea unrest as they prepare for Manchester United

Liam Rosenior was clear that Enzo Fernandez will not be playing in the next two matches against Port Vale and Manchester City.

What he was less clear about is he would return for Chelsea’s third game, the clash with Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on 18th April.

If he returns, Chelsea will have let their top attacking midfielder back into the side, with 12 goals and six assists across 46 games this season.

Without him, it’s likely Cole Palmer would swap from the wing to the centre, opening up a space on the flanks for the likes of Alejandro Garnacho, Jamie Gittens or Estevao.

However, play or not, it’s just another crack in the exterior of potential unrest at Chelsea, unrest which has seen them face four straight losses after drawing to Wrexham in the FA Cup to win in extra-time.

Marc Cucurella has also criticised Chelsea’s recruitment, claiming it would be hard to reject an offer to move to Barcelona.

As such, United are seemingly finding their footing, getting ready to face a team fighting for European football, yet they appear to be facing internal struggles.

How Enzo Fernandez can impact the transfer market

The wider aspect of all this is the links between Real Madrid and Enzo Fernandez. The midfielder is clearly on their, admittedly vast, shortlist, and he’s come out very openly to be happy for the move.

As such, if Madrid do go for the Argentina international, it could seem they are renouncing their interest in other targets, namely Elliot Anderson, Sandro Tonali and Rodri.

While Elliot Anderson and Sandro Tonali are directly on Manchester United’s shortlist to replace Casemiro, Rodri is part of a domino chain putting Manchester City in the race for Anderson.

City have offered Rodri a new contract to try and disuade the Madrid interest, but if he moves, the pursuit of Anderson becomes a strong one with The Citizens already front runners.

So, if Real Madrid sign Enzo Fernandez, a move for Rodri is potentially less likely, seeing City less likely to move for Anderson, which all around gives United more of a clear run at their midfield overhaul.

However, it is worth noting this would bring Chelsea into the race for midfielders, but given Liam Delap purely chose Stamford Bridge over Old Trafford for European football, this draw is no longer a Chelsea advantage.