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BlueCo have signed a “wonderkid” who can become Chelsea’s new Caicedo & Enzo
Not every signing has been a hit, but over the last few years, Chelsea has built a sensational squad.
At the back, the likes of Reece James, Marc Cucurella and Wesley Fofana would likely start for most teams in the Premier League.
Likewise, Cole Palmer is one of the best attacking players in world football, and Estevao looks like someone who could develop into a world-class superstar.
Finally, Enzo Maresca has some unreal midfield options as well, with Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernández the two standouts, and as if that wasn’t enough, Chelsea may well already have the perfect heir to the pair of them.
How Fernández and Caicedo compare in 2025/26
Fans might disagree about who Chelsea’s most important player is, but one thing most will surely agree on is that Caicedo and Fernández are among the candidates.
However, how are they stacking up against one another so far this season?
Well, starting with some of the basic surface-level barometers, the Argentine has made 24 appearances, most of which have come in central midfield, and he has scored five goals and provided two assists.
The Ecuadorian, on the other hand, has made 21 first-team appearances, almost all of which have come in the six, in which he’s scored four goals and provided one assist.
Given the fact that the former Brighton & Hove Albion gem plays deeper than his teammate, you’d probably have to say he just about edges it when it comes to output.
However, with six yellow cards and one red compared to the former Benfica man’s four yellows, he certainly comes out second best when it comes to temperament.
Okay then, which international superstar comes out looking better when comparing their underlying numbers, then?
Unsurprisingly, the former Seagulls ace comes out ahead in every defensive metric, and the World Cup winner does better in the more attacking ones.
However, metrics like passing accuracy, goal-creating actions and goals per shot, all per 90, just about tip the scales in the Santo Domingo-born monster’s favour.
|
Caicedo vs Fernández |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Statistics per 90 |
Caicedo |
Fernández |
|
Non-Penalty Expected G+As |
0.13 |
0.57 |
|
Progressive Passes |
5.80 |
7.57 |
|
Progressive Carries |
0.84 |
1.38 |
|
Goals per Shot |
0.27 |
0.10 |
|
Passing Accuracy |
90.1 |
82.9 |
|
Key Passes |
0.50 |
1.71 |
|
Shot-Creating Actions |
2.35 |
3.36 |
|
Goal-Creating Actions |
0.42 |
0.26 |
|
Tackles |
3.11 |
1.58 |
|
Blocks |
1.09 |
1.05 |
|
Interceptions |
2.69 |
0.46 |
|
Clearances |
1.09 |
0.79 |
|
Ball Recoveries |
5.88 |
4.14 |
|
All Stats via FBref for the 25/26 PL Season |
||
With all that said, while Caicedo comes out looking the better player, Fernández is still an essential part of the Chelsea team, and now it seems the club might already have a young player who could be moulded to succeed him or his midfield partner.
The incredible gem who could replace Caicedo or Fernández
So then, to even be considered as a potential future replacement for either Caicedo or Fernandez, a player has to be something special.
The good news is, from what those in the know seem to suggest, Mohammad Zongo is just that.
Earlier this month, it was announced that the consortium that owns Chelsea and Strasbourg, BlueCo, had agreed to sign the Burkina Faso youngster.
He is expected to join the French outfit in two years, once he turns 18, and is seen as someone with a future at Stamford Bridge.
With that said, why is he someone who could be the heir to one of the Blues’ two best midfielders?
Well, firstly, he is a positionally versatile prospect, someone who can play in attack or deeper in midfield, which is likely one of the reasons Chelsea writer Lloyd Canfield said that the youngster “plays like a unique mix of Estevao and Moises Caicedo.”
Moreover, analyst Filipe Sousa has described the teenager phenom as “a complete and energetic box-to-box midfielder who contributes in every phase of the game.”
Sousa adds that the youngster is “technically clean and physically strong”, which helps him to cover space rapidly, win the ball and help start attacks.
With a description such as this, it’s hard not to think of Maresca’s Ecuadorian enforcer.
He isn’t just an engine, though, with U23 scout Antonio Mango calling him a “magic” player for his ability to create chances for his teammates.
Ultimately, there is a long time to go before Chelsea fans see Zongo represent them, but even so, it’s hard not to get excited about the prospect of him being the long-term heir to Caicedo or Fernandez.
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