PSG conspiracy theory could ignite Chelsea transfer for Fernandez replacement
Chelsea's search for an Enzo Fernandez replacement could receive an unexpected boost from developments at PSG.
The Blues are in the market for a midfielder after failing to sign a successor to the Argentine in the summer. Fernandez was sold to Man City on Deadline Day, but a deal to bring in Lamine Camara from AS Monaco collapsed.
Chelsea have been linked with numerous potential alternatives in the seven weeks since that fateful September evening, with the likes of Alex Scott and Manu Kone believed to be among the options being considered by the Stamford Bridge outfit heading into 2027.
Competition is expected to be fierce for both, but they are surely far from the only names on Xabi Alonso's shortlist. What about his former Real Sociedad protégé Martin Zubimendi, who is struggling for minutes at Arsenal?
There are plenty of options to choose from; it's just a question of whether they will add someone in January or if they will be forced to wait until the summer, with clubs generally reluctant to sell their stars mid-season.
Could Mayulu be an option for Chelsea?
As always in football, there could still be plenty of changes in the midfielder market in the next weeks and months, so making any kind of predictions at this stage is an exercise in futility.
Evidence of the ever-changing landscape of the transfer market can currently be found in France. Trouble seems to be brewing at PSG, and this could have huge ramifications for the "mercato."
L'Equipe reports that there is internal tension in Paris because of Dro Fernandez's role in Luis Enrique's plans. The 18-year-old, signed for a bargain €8.2 million from Barcelona in January, has featured prominently in recent Ligue 1 fixtures - too prominently, according to some.
You would think that giving a teenager who was signed for peanuts regular game time would be in the club's interest - he either develops into an elite player or he is sold on for a profit. But that's not the thought process of everyone at PSG.
It is claimed that Dro's growing role in the team is seen with consternation by other players and youth team coaches. They are worried that he is blocking the first-team pathway of equally talented homegrown prospects.
The French outlet implies that Dro's January signing played a part in Mathis Jangeal and Aymen Assab deciding to leave PSG this summer in search of senior opportunities elsewhere.
Moreover, there are concerns that coach Enrique is giving his compatriot preferential treatment compared to players like Quentin Ndjantou, who hasn't played at all, and Senny Mayulu, who has racked up just 67 minutes.
By comparison, Dro has played 249 minutes, but the young playmaker has not yet directly contributed to a goal. His performances have been described as "frustrating," with the teenage prodigy remaining a "mystery" that has yet to be unlocked.
A theory is emerging that Enrique is patronising the 18-year-old because the two are represented by the same agent, Ivan de la Pena. This seems far-fetched, but it is a situation worth keeping an eye on, particularly when it comes to Mayulu.
The 20-year-old's relationship with PSG has been quite rocky this year. In the spring, his future became a huge topic of discussion because agreeing a contract extension proved difficult.
Both parties used the media to exert pressure on each other, with PSG accusing the versatile midfielder of demanding an exorbitant wage, prompting Mayulu's camp to hit back by claiming that the France youth international had been "thrown under the bus" by his club.
For a while, a summer exit looked a distinct possibility, but the two parties ultimately managed to put their differences aside and agree fresh terms. Mayulu signed an extension until 2031 the day before the transfer window opened.
Despite his youth, Mayulu is closing in on 100 senior appearances for PSG, although he hasn't actually played since early September. In fact, he has racked up more minutes in two appearances for France's U21s than for his club this season.
That's surely not what he was expecting when he renewed his contract. Intriguingly, analytics firm SciSports believes that Chelsea could be a good destination for Mayulu.
The Blues rank as one of the best teams as per the data company's Career Advice tool, which analyses several factors such as playing style, development prospects and predicted game time. Chelsea's Club Fit rating of 81 is only bettered by three clubs.
Such is Mayulu's talent that SciSports believes he would have no issues establishing himself at Stamford Bridge. His immense potential could see him become the best midfielder at Chelsea, even ahead of the likes of Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Moises Caicedo.
Mayulu's incredible versatility - he has basically played everywhere for PSG - could make him a hugely useful asset to Alonso, although there might be question marks over how he would cope in a withdrawn midfield role in the Premier League.
The 20-year-old is not a traditional central midfielder; he is an attacker who has been converted into that role by Enrique, but that could be fine at Chelsea if he plays alongside Caicedo. Either way, he is one to keep an eye on if he continues to find himself on the outside looking in at PSG.
