Real Madrid eye Enzo Fernandez swoop as Los Blancos aim to replace departing Luka Modric after Chelsea midfielder revealed admiration for Spanish giants

According to Cadenaser, Madrid have two new midfield options on their radar: Fernandez and Argentinian compatriot and Bayer Leverkusen ace Exequiel Palacios. This comes after it was revealed that Modric will leave Los Blancos for good this summer.

Madrid have been linked with Fernandez in recent weeks but Chelsea are unlikely to entertain a sale, unless they can move him on for more than the £106.8 million ($143m) they paid Benfica for him back in 2023. Incidentally, speculation that the 24-year-old wants to move to Santiago Bernabeu has increased since his Madrid revelation.

The report adds that Madrid will be hoping that Chelsea fail to win the Europa Conference League final against Real Betis and fall short in their bid to qualify for next season's Champions League as that may hasten a possible Stamford Bridge exit for Fernandez.

Chelsea play their final Premier League game of the season away at Champions League qualification rivals Nottingham Forest on Sunday in a battle between fifth and seventh, respectively. Then Fernandez's side take on Betis next Wednesday as they bid for European glory.