Sander Berge To Chelsea: What We Know
Chelsea considered a late deadline-day move for Fulham midfielder Sander Berge as a contingency option following Enzo Fernandez’s £125m departure.
Status: Confirmed Interest
Chelsea explored a late deadline-day move for Fulham midfielder Sander Berge as they scrambled to find a replacement for Enzo Fernandez, who joined Manchester City in a £125 million deal. According to reports from the BBC, Chelsea did not submit a formal bid for the Norway international, and Fulham maintained that the midfielder was not for sale.
The interest in Berge emerged after alternative deadline-day transfers fell through. Chelsea targeted Roma's Manu Kone and Monaco's Lamine Camara, but complications prevented either deal from materialising. The failure to secure a midfielder left head coach Xabi Alonso short of options, forcing him to deploy right-backs Reece James and Malo Gusto in central midfield during a recent defeat to Arsenal while Moises Caicedo struggled with fitness issues.
While Berge would have provided defensive stability, his profile as a holding midfielder differs significantly from Fernandez's creative role. Chelsea also looked at Everton’s James Garner, though Everton manager David Moyes denied that any approach was made. Chelsea are expected to prioritise midfield recruitments when the transfer window reopens in January, with Bournemouth's Alex Scott remaining a key long-term target for the club.