Chelsea planning to sign new midfielder in 2026

Chelsea are planning to sign a new midfielder next year to ease the workload on Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez, according to The Telegraph.

The Blues have been overly dependent on the duo in the heart of the midfield. Andrey Santos has been a decent deputy, but the Blues have lacked more options for the manager to pick from.

Dario Essugo and Romeo Lavia have been vastly injury-prone since their moves to Chelsea, and manager Enzo Maresca has had to pick right-back Reece James as a makeshift midfielder.

The Blues are expecting a quiet winter transfer window, but there could be plenty of signings made next summer. A marquee midfielder could be prioritised to lessen the burden on Caicedo and Fernandez.

There is also the possibility that the Blues could part ways with Lavia, having grown frustrated with his inability to stay fit. The Belgian has been linked with a possible move to Ligue 1 with Marseille.