Two of Europe’s biggest sides are keeping tabs on Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez as the Argentine star struggles to fit into manager Enzo Maresca’s plans.

The Blues have re-emerged this season, finishing fourth with 18 points from 10 games, after slipping to sixth last season and enduring a chaotic summer.

Their form was somewhat checked by a Manchester United side who had faced a week of chaos to surpass even their lofty standards, after they sacked Erik ten Hag and quickly recruited Sporting Lisbon’s Ruben Amorim, only to be forced to rely on interim Ruud van Nistelrooy on Sunday thanks to Amorim’s long notice period.

World Cup-winning star Fernandez has struggled for form this campaign and was suspended for this weekend’s 1-1 draw at Old Trafford in favor of midfield duo Moises Caicedo and Roméo Lavia, making it three successive substitutions.

Now it appears that the Champions League giants are gearing up to take advantage of the uncertainty surrounding the 23-year-old’s place in the Chelsea team, The sun reports.

Two of Europe’s biggest sides are keeping tabs on Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez

The out-of-favour midfielder joined Chelsea in January 2023 for £106.8m after a memorable World Cup victory for Argentina in Qatar, but has lost his place in the team.

The Argentine star is struggling to fit into manager Enzo Maresca’s plans

Inter Milan and Barcelona lead the charge and both sides are believed to be keen to add Fernandez’s quality in midfield.

The Argentine is reportedly ready to earn back his place in Maresca’s starting XI but is not prepared to spend any length of time on the sidelines of Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea salvaged a point against the Red Devils after Bruno Fernandes opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the second half.

Just five minutes later, the away side leveled the tight game thanks to a volley from Caicedo after the ball trickled out from a corner.

The Ecuadorian had been picked alongside Lavia for his physicality and composure in the middle of the park, and the pair allowed Chelsea to get a grip on a tough away game against a determined United.

Ahead of the clash, Maresca said: “They are people and if you pay £100m it’s not my problem.

‘If you want to buy me, then you pay that money. That doesn’t mean every game you have to be the best. At the end of the day they are footballers and they cannot always be at the top level.

‘At the moment Enzo is not playing but there are no problems with Enzo. The buzz about Enzo is because clubs pay so much money for them that people expect them to always be the best. It is not so.

The Blues have made a resurgence this season, finishing fourth with 18 points from 10 games

Their form was somewhat checked by a Manchester United side that has endured a week of chaos and was managed by Ruud van Nistelrooy

Bruno Fernandes’ penalty gave Manchester United the lead in the second half of a tight game

Moises Caicedo secured a point for Chelsea after they went down at Old Trafford

“The only reason he doesn’t play is just because the physicality I prefer is from Caicedo and Romeo Lavia.”

After the match, Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp weighed in on Maresca’s selection headache.

“When he first signed it was a difficult time but now you see the real Caicedo who was at Brighton,” he said.

‘I thought he was a different class today. I don’t think the balance between him and Enzo Fernandez is right.

Commentator and former Chelsea boss Frank Lampard added: “You need extra players, you need a team. People’s eyes were on Enzo Fernandez.

Lavia can see a passport. Fernandez will have to work hard to get back into the team.

The out-of-favour midfielder joined Chelsea in January 2023 for £106.8m following a memorable World Cup victory for Argentina in Qatar.

He has since made 75 appearances for a Blues side that has gone through a number of transfer spells, starting his spell under Graham Potter before being coached by interim boss Lampard for the remainder of a disappointing first season.

Mauricio Pochettino then took charge of the team last campaign before Maresca took up the role this summer.

Caicedo scored the equalizer in a man of the match display at Old Trafford on Sunday, keeping Fernandez out of the side

Meanwhile, Romeo Lavia (pictured in the middle, with Maresca on the left and Caicedo in the background) is finally building a series of starts

Jamie Redknapp believes Caicedo is now delivering his Brighton form at Chelsea

Frank Lampard claimed that Fernandez will now face a battle to return to the starting XI

Caicedo and Lavia both joined in the summer of 2023, providing immediate competition for Fernandez that the Argentine has so far kept at bay.

Belgian star Lavia has made just seven appearances for the Blues while his Ecuadorian team-mate has made 60 appearances for the club, albeit many of them from the bench.

Fernandez has now been left on the bench for three straight matches, including the away loss to Liverpool and the home win over Newcastle, and Lavia has been the beneficiary, finally building a string of starts.