Chelsea made a move for Fulham midfielder Sander Berge in the closing stages of the summer transfer window, according to a report from BBC Sport.
The Blues were actively seeking a central midfielder after accepting that Enzo Fernandez would depart, with the Argentine joining Manchester City in a lucrative deal.
Fulham firmly rejected Chelsea’s approach for Berge, shutting down any possibility of an immediate transfer between the two London clubs.
The Norwegian international had been one of the standout performers at the World Cup, further raising his profile ahead of what proved to be a busy summer of speculation.
Manchester United were also credited with strong interest in Berge before ultimately turning their attention elsewhere, completing the signings of Andrey Santos, Carlos Baleba and Youri Tielemans.
Laurie Whitwell reported that Berge would have been expected to cost around £40 million had United decided to pursue him seriously during the window.
With both Chelsea and Manchester United having shown firm interest, the 28-year-old is set to be one of the more closely watched names ahead of the January transfer window.
Chelsea’s need for midfield reinforcement has only grown more pressing, with Moises Caicedo currently sidelined through injury and Romeo Lavia also struggling with fitness throughout his time at the club.
The gap left by Fernandez was evident in Chelsea’s fixture against Arsenal, where the Blues lacked a commanding physical presence in the middle of the pitch.
Berge’s profile fits precisely what Chelsea appear to need, given his physicality, aerial ability and his effectiveness in winning duels in central areas.
His confidence carrying the ball forward into the final third also gives him an additional dimension, allowing him to link defence and attack with purpose.
Now in what many consider the peak years of his career, Berge would represent a well-rounded replacement for Fernandez if Chelsea reignite their pursuit in January.