Chelsea explored a late move for Fulham midfielder Sander Berge as the club searched for a replacement for Enzo Fernandez during the final stages of the summer transfer window.
BBC Sport senior football correspondent Sami Mokbel reports that Berge was among the options considered by Chelsea before Fernandez completed his £125million move to Manchester City.
However, the Blues never submitted a formal bid and Fulham regarded the 28-year-old Norway international as unavailable.
Chelsea eventually allowed Fernandez to leave without securing another central midfielder.
Chelsea considered Berge during midfield search
Berge becomes the latest name to emerge from Chelsea’s frantic attempts to reshape Xabi Alonso’s midfield before the deadline.
The Blues had already explored several alternatives and believed they had secured Lamine Camara before Monaco dramatically withdrew from a £47m agreement.
ReadChelsea covered how Chelsea were left furious when the Camara deal collapsed, despite the club deciding to honour their agreement to sell Fernandez.
Chelsea had also considered Roma midfielder Manu Koné, while their eventual decision to approve Fernandez’s £125m-plus Manchester City transfer left Alonso with fewer established central options.
The failure to add another midfielder has already come under scrutiny.
Chelsea were without Moises Caicedo during Sunday’s 2-1 defeat at Arsenal, forcing Reece James to partner Romeo Lavia before Malo Gusto was also used centrally later in the game.
ReadChelsea highlighted how Chelsea’s reliance on Caicedo was exposed at the Emirates, while The Guardian’s post-match analysis also identified midfield depth as an emerging problem for Alonso.
Berge will now remain at Fulham, but Chelsea’s late interest provides another indication of how keen the club were to add a midfielder before the window closed.
With no replacement ultimately arriving, that position could quickly become one of Chelsea’s main priorities when the transfer market reopens in January.
