I tried everything I could to encourage him to join Aston Villa, but it appears that His mind is made up already and he has gone behind my back to join his childhood dream club’: Wmi Martinez has confirmed this. His international teammate has declined Aston Villa’s offer to join the Chelsea next transfer window and will receive £50 million for his services.

Chelsea are now exploring the possibility of signing Enzo Fernandez’s Argentina teammate, who is valued at £50 million.

Chelsea may sign another member of Argentina’s World Cup-winning squad next year.

Despite already having Enzo Fernandez and a strong midfield, the club appears to be considering further reinforcement in that area.

In addition to Fernandez, Chelsea also have Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, and Renato Veiga available for the midfield positions.

Dewsbury-Hall is expected to feature in tonight’s Carabao Cup third-round match against Barrow.

Chelsea have Exequiel Palacios on their radar, with reports suggesting a potential reunion with his Argentina World Cup-winning teammate, Enzo Fernandez, at Stamford Bridge.

According to *CaughtOffside*, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Arsenal are all interested in signing the Bayer Leverkusen midfielder.

Leverkusen have reportedly set Palacios’ price at €60m (£49.9m), indicating that a transfer won’t come cheap.

If Exequiel Palacios joins Stamford Bridge, Chelsea would have a trio of South American midfielders, with Moises Caicedo already at the club.

Caicedo has had a fantastic start to the season, with Enzo Maresca particularly impressed by his performance against West Ham United.

What could Palacios bring to Chelsea?

With Fernandez and Caicedo, Maresca already commands a strong midfield, but Palacios’ addition could further strengthen it.Palacios is skilled on the ball and adept at handling defensive tasks. According to FBref, the 25-year-old ranks in the 92nd percentile for progressive passes and the 93rd percentile for tackles among midfielders over the last year.

While bolstering the midfield isn’t Chelsea’s immediate priority unless Lavia’s injury issues persist, Palacios would be a top choice if they decide to reinforce that area..
If Chelsea were to sign Exequiel Palacios, the midfielder could bring a well-rounded skill set to the club. Known for his versatility, Palacios excels both offensively and defensively, ranking highly for progressive passes (92nd percentile) and tackles (93rd percentile) over the last year. This combination would complement Chelsea’s existing midfield lineup, which already features players like Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo, and Romeo Lavia.

Palacios’ ability to control the game in midfield would provide Chelsea with additional depth and options, especially if injuries persist within the squad, such as those affecting Lavia. Moreover, his familiarity with Fernandez from their time with Argentina could create a strong partnership on the field.

Although Chelsea’s midfield is already strong, Palacios could add another layer of dynamism, offering more flexibility in both possession play and defensive resilience. His arrival might also provide cover during congested fixtures, helping Chelsea maintain balance across domestic and European competitions.