Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca is searching for solutions in midfield due to recent injury blows.
Chelsea beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-1 earlier this week to return to winning ways in the Premier League, but they had to do so without both Enzo Fernandez and Romeo Lavia.
Chelsea midfielders Fernandez and Lavia were absent versus Wolves. In fairness, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall did a decent job stepping into the XI to partner ever-present Moises Caicedo in the centre of the park.
The Blues travel to Manchester City on Saturday in their next league match, but we’re unclear on what the midfield personnel will be.
Speaking via The Evening Standard this week, Enzo Maresca confirmed that he’s still waiting for an injury update on Fernandez and Lavia. He said: “We don’t know yet how long they are going to be out. Hopefully not too long. Muscle fatigue or muscle problem. We need to wait a little bit.”
- READ MORE: Enzo Maresca claims Chelsea star Enzo Fernandez has got miles better at one thing under him
Enzo Fernandez and Romeo Lavia injuries may alter Chelsea transfer plans
According to The Telegraph, Chelsea are now keeping an eye on their midfield options due to the recent injuries to Fernandez and Lavia.
It is understood that Fernandez is set to return ‘quickly’, while Lavia is expected to be absent for weeks due to his latest problem.
Apparently, the latest injury setbacks could impact Chelsea’s transfer plans when it comes to allowing the likes of Cesare Casadei or Renato Veiga to leave the club in January. As it stands, the Blues are weighing up who can deputise in midfield for them.
The report says that Casadei and Veiga have been expected to leave in the mid-season window. Let’s see if the club puts the brakes on that now, though.
Veiga’s Chelsea career looks over after Maresca’s recent comments, but it could leave the squad vulnerable in the second half of the season if he leaves without signing a replacement.
Meanwhile, Chelsea have reached an agreement with Torino to sell Casadei, but we’re still waiting for official confirmation on any deal.
Chelsea may have answer closer to home
If the club needs extra midfield depth for the second half of the season, it could be worth looking to see what’s already in the Chelsea academy.
Blues youngster Kiano Dyer, 18, is someone we’d love to see get more of a look-in with the first-team group.
The deep-lying midfielder, who’s got such incredible technique, made his senior debut last month in the Conference League. Perhaps it’s worth Maresca taking a closer look at him in the coming weeks because he’s often a class above in the Under-21s team.
Dyer is one of the Chelsea youngsters to look out for because he ticks so many boxes as a footballer. Will he now get the platform to develop?
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