Chelsea's frantic efforts to bolster their midfield before the close of the summer transfer window included a late look at Fulham's Sander Berge, though the move never progressed beyond preliminary interest, it has emerged.
The west London club had been eager to bring in a central midfielder to offset the departure of Enzo Fernandez, who completed a big-money switch to Manchester City in a deal worth £125m. With that transfer set in motion, Chelsea knew they needed fresh legs in the middle of the park, but their attempts to find a replacement ultimately fell short.
Berge, a 28-year-old Norway international, was reportedly considered as one of several options during the frantic closing stages of the window. However, Chelsea stopped short of lodging an official bid, and Fulham made clear the player was not for sale. Since joining from Burnley in 2023, Berge has established himself as an important figure for the Cottagers, racking up 78 appearances for the club.
With the Berge avenue closed off, Chelsea turned their attention elsewhere on deadline day, focusing on two other midfield targets: Monaco's Lamine Camara and Roma's Manu Kone. The club believed they had agreed terms to sign Camara for £47m in the dying hours of the window, only for the deal to unravel just minutes before the deadline passed—a bitter setback for a club desperate to add depth in that area.
There were also reports linking Chelsea with an approach for Everton's James Garner on deadline day, though Toffees manager David Moyes has since dismissed those claims.
Ultimately, Chelsea's summer window closed without the midfield reinforcement they had been chasing, leaving them to make do with their existing options. The consequences of that were evident in Sunday's defeat to Arsenal, where manager Xabi Alonso was forced into an unconventional setup, using natural right-backs Reece James and Malo Gusto through the centre of the pitch in the closing stages.
That improvisation underscored the scale of the problem facing Alonso, who will now likely prioritize strengthening his midfield options when the January transfer window opens. Bournemouth's Alex Scott has been mentioned as one of the club's long-term targets as they look to address the gap left by Fernandez's exit.
In more immediate terms, there is some optimism at Stamford Bridge regarding Moises Caicedo's fitness. The Ecuadorian missed the loss at the Emirates Stadium through injury, but there is hope he could be available for Saturday's home fixture against Hull City, kicking off at 15:00 BST. His return would provide much-needed stability in a midfield that has looked stretched without a like-for-like replacement for Fernandez.
For now, Chelsea must navigate the coming months with the squad they have, relying on tactical adaptability rather than fresh recruits until the winter window offers another chance to address their midfield shortage. The failed pursuit of Berge, along with the collapsed Camara deal, will likely serve as a reminder of how quickly transfer plans can unravel even in the final hours of a window, leaving clubs to reassess their targets and strategies as the season progresses.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport Football.