Chelsea's Deadline Day plan revealed after Enzo Fernandez replacement twist

Chelsea will not rush into signing a replacement for Enzo Fernandez with the transfer deadline rapidly approaching.

There is no guarantee Fernandez will be replaced today, as the club are yet to make significant progress on any of their targets.

The option of signing Kone, though, appears to have been taken off the table. New reports in Italy claim Roma’s executives have drawn a line in the sand and will refuse to sell the Frenchman under any circumstances.

Off the table: Roma will refuse to sell Manu Kone on Deadline Day

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He started as Roma dispatched Lecce 4-0 on Monday night, and, speaking at full-time, head coach Gian Piero Gasperini made clear he had no intention of letting Kone depart.

Asked to respond to the rumours of his possible exit, the Italian said: “Absolutely not, it is a media thing, I know nothing about it.

“I know the owners too do not want to sell. I don't know who approached us, but we have not received any formal offers for him.”

Fernandez’s departure leaves Chelsea with Moises Caicedo, Reece James, Romeo Lavia, Valentin Barco and Jordan Henderson as midfield options. Dario Essugo is expected to depart before the window closes.

The club are expected to continue investing in the January transfer window, and may hesitate to rush into a deal on Tuesday night.

Chelsea are also known to hold a long-standing interest in Bournemouth’s Alex Scott, though the Cherries have also made clear they are not interested in selling this summer.