Chelsea open their 2025/26 Premier League campaign at home to Crystal Palace and for Enzo Maresca, he will hope to have his dream midfield in place.
In comparison to every other position, at least in Premier League action, the Chelsea boss seldom changed his engine room. Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez were the two mainstays with the consistently superb displays of both helping to achieve a top-five finish.
Reece James and Romeo Lavia also helped Chelsea maintain control throughout the season but fitness concerns for the duo hindered their ability to impact proceedings regularly.
Major injury problems appear to be firmly behind both now though, with Maresca choosing to name them in his starting XI for their first Club World Cup clash against Los Angeles FC. In order to offer game time for others, and likely because James was on a booking, the duo were taken off at half-time.
While it did provide a slight glimpse into how Chelsea could line up next season, Fernandez, who replaced Lavia for the second half and later scored, is more than likely to start most games. However, there is a way in which all four aforementioned names can feature at the same time without hindering their best abilities.
Moving Caicedo out to right-back, while still allowing him to invert, can work but it is not the best use of his tenacious tackling and talent when it comes to breaking up play. Fernandez meanwhile, is an elite box-crasher with the inclusion of Lavia allowing him to take up a freer role centrally.
It may seem as though that leaves potential question marks over Palmer, but as he rarely sticks to an exact position, it is worth allowing him to roam. Maresca has even hinted that he may be allowed to do exactly that.
“After the Conference League final, he said he was quite bored receiving the ball but decided to do something different,” Maresca said in his most recent press conference. “I said to him you can do that from the first minute, why did you wait? We ask him to do that because we are happy he does that. Cole is our best player, a top player.”
If that is truly Palmer’s thoughts, allow him to be more expansive, take more risks and pick up the ball in different areas. Marc Cucurella is more than capable of providing width if needed while one of Pedro Neto, Noni Madueke or potential new signing Jamie Gittens shift inside.
This tactical set-up would see James deployed at right-back with Lavia and Caicedo in holding roles while Fernandez and Palmer are unleashed in more advanced positions.
Given the chaotic schedule and potential injury issues, this will not work for every game, but that is where Andrey Santos comes in. The Brazilian was exceptional at Strasbourg during the 2024/25 season and will certainly have a role in the Chelsea first team.
At least initially, as evidenced by him not featuring against LA FC, he may be better off making cameos from the bench before starting some early Carabao Cup or Champions League games against lesser opposition.
As for the other young midfielders on Chelsea’s books, loan moves for both Dario Essugo and Mathis Amougou could be the best option for their respective development.
With no Conference League action, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall will be better off sealing a permanent departure in order to play regularly. Carney Chukwuemeka is another free to move on. That may leave options a bit light for Maresca but with James able to fill in, he will have five central midfielders available.
Dream Chelsea midfield: Caicedo, Lavia; Fernandez
