Cole Palmer’s injuries are one reason why Chelsea have struggled in the Premier League this season.
They have made it difficult for the attacking midfielder to find consistency and rhythm at Stamford Bridge.
Although Enzo Fernandez is playing as a No.10 right now, Chelsea have not had a real natural alternative to Palmer. They signed Facundo Buonanotte on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion in the last summer transfer window, but that move never worked out.
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Nico Paz would have been the ideal alternative to Cole Palmer
Chelsea can persist in using Fernandez as a No.10 option, but if they want to sign an attacking midfielder this summer, Como’s Nico Paz is a great candidate.
Unfortunately for the Blues, they look set to miss out on the 21-year-old despite having interest in him.
It was recently claimed that while Chelsea do have the player on their radar, Paz only wants to join Real Madrid, who are able to re-sign him in the upcoming transfer window thanks to a buy-back clause.
Paz has been one of the standout players in Serie A this season. In 29 appearances, he has scored 10 goals and provided six assists.
The Argentina international has the attacking output to fill in for Palmer when required to.
| Player | League apps | Minutes | Goals | Assists | Shots per game | Key passes per game | Dribbles per game |
| Nico Paz | 29 | 2,389 | 10 | 6 | 3.6 | 1.5 | 1.9 |
| Cole Palmer | 20 | 1,426 | 9 | 1 | 2.3 | 1 | 1 |
At this point, it would be a shock if Paz did not end up at Real Madrid. All the noise suggests that he will be heading back to the Santiago Bernabeu, so Chelsea are going to have to look elsewhere.
Again, Liam Rosenior can just continue with what he has got. Fernandez and Joao Pedro can both operate in the No.10 role, so they can fill in for Palmer when he is not around.
Of course, there is a lot of uncertainty surrounding the former’s future right now. He could actually join Paz in the Spanish capital this summer.
It is believed that Fernandez is dreaming of a move to Real Madrid and hopes to become a legend there one day.
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