Chelsea considered signing Fulham midfielder Berge but did not make formal offer

Chelsea considered signing Fulham midfielder Sander Berge before the summer transfer window closed as preparation for a possible move of Enzo Fernandez to Manchester City, but ultimately did not make a formal offer.

Why Berge came onto Chelsea's radar

According to BBC Sport, before Fernandez completed a £125 million move to Manchester City, Chelsea listed Berge as one of several midfield options. The 28-year-old Norway international joined Fulham from Burnley and has since made 78 appearances for the club, becoming an important member of the squad. His physical presence, defensive awareness and Premier League experience made him a suitable option in Chelsea's view.

However, the potential deal faced significant difficulties from the beginning. Fulham were determined not to sell one of their most important players late in the window, and Chelsea's interest in Berge remained at the exploratory stage without progressing to a formal offer.

Midfield vacancy remained after the window closed

Chelsea then turned their attention to other targets, including Lamine Camara and Manu Kone, but were unable to complete any signings before the deadline. This meant Xabi Alonso did not find a direct replacement for Fernandez.

The consequences quickly became apparent. According to The Guardian, after Chelsea's 2-1 defeat to Arsenal, the midfield had become one of Alonso's biggest concerns at the start of the season, especially with Moises Caicedo facing fitness issues and Romeo Lavia still recovering his match condition.