Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has revealed the club considered signing a free-agent midfielder to address a depth crisis following the late collapse of their £47m move for Monaco's Lamine Camara and Enzo Fernandez's £125m departure to Manchester City.
Chelsea's free-agent contingency plans
According to a report by FootballTransfers, Alonso admitted that Chelsea explored short-term free-agent solutions to stabilise their midfield. The report claims the club's hierarchy evaluated several out-of-contract options, including former Roma midfielder Renato Sanches and Netherlands international Georginio Wijnaldum. This emergency planning was triggered on deadline day when Monaco dramatically pulled the plug on a £47m deal for Camara, despite the 22-year-old having already undergone his medical in London. Monaco's sporting director later defended the decision, publicly stating that keeping the midfielder was always the French club's priority, leaving Chelsea short of senior options alongside Moises Caicedo.
Midfield reinforcements and the January outlook
To ease the immediate strain on Alonso's squad, Chelsea are set to recall 19-year-old midfielder Kendry Paez from his loan spell at River Plate. However, the club is expected to seek more established talent when the transfer window reopens. Chelsea made an enquiry for Roma's Manu Kone before the summer deadline, and reports suggest they are planning to pursue Bournemouth's Alex Scott in January. Having sanctioned Fernandez's British-record equalling departure to Manchester City on 2 September 2026, the Stamford Bridge club remains highly active in identifying long-term tactical fits to restore balance to their midfield unit.
