Chlesea midfielder Enzo Fernandez is being tracked by two European giants after losing his place in the Blues' starting line-up.
Fernandez, 23, only joined Chelsea from Benfica in January 2023 for a staggering £105million, breaking the British transfer record. But new manager Enzo Maresca isn't convinced by the Argentina international, as he prefers the 'physicality' of duo Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo.
The pair were chosen for Sunday's drab 1-1 draw at Manchester United, with Fernandez coming on as a substitute and seeing 19 minutes of second-half action. In midweek, the World Cup-winning star played the entire game as Chelsea were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Newcastle.
Amid Fernandez's struggles, it's been suggested that the ex-River Plate starlet could seek a move away in the January transfer window. If Chelsea do decide to cut their losses, it seems that they won't be short of suitors.
The Sun report that La Liga leaders Barcelona and Serie A champions Inter Milan are both monitoring Fernandez's situation. Neither of the Champions League sides are likely to offer anything close to the amount which Chelsea paid for him just under two years ago but could make proposals to sign him on loan.
It's added the Fernandez's priority is to regain his place in Chelsea's first XI but he doesn't want to spend months sitting on the bench. The 23-year-old recently split from childhood sweetheart Valentina Cervantes to live on his own, despite them having a son and daughter together.
Maresca was asked about Fernandez's situation ahead of facing United, brutally replying: "They are human beings and if you pay £100m that is not my problem. "You want to buy me then you pay that money. That does not mean that every game you have to be the best.
"At the end of the day they are football players and they cannot always be at the top level. "At this moment Enzo is not playing but there is no problem with Enzo. The noise about Enzo is because clubs pay so much money for them, people expect they will always be the best. That is not so. The only reason he is not playing is just because the physicality I prefer is from Caicedo and Romeo Lavia."
Fernandez hopes to be named in the starting line-up for Thursday's match at home to Armenian side Noah in the Conference League.