Frank Leboeuf has issued a stark warning to Chelsea, insisting that Enzo Fernandez must be sold before the summer transfer window shuts — and that keeping the Argentina midfielder would benefit nobody at the club.

The former Chelsea defender, speaking to ESPN, drew a parallel with the Julian Alvarez situation at Manchester City: "A club can fight and try to keep a player, but if the player wants to go, he has to go — there is no way he would be fully fit, psychologically, to give 100 per cent."

Leboeuf pulled no punches when assessing Fernandez's commitment to Chelsea's project: "I think nobody wants Enzo Fernandez to stay. It's time for him to go because he decided to go, because of his comment that he wants to leave. So, bye-bye. Good luck."

A difficult few months for Fernandez

Fernandez's relationship with Stamford Bridge has soured steadily over recent months. The 25-year-old publicly expressed his desire to one day represent Real Madrid, a declaration that alienated a section of the fanbase and led to him being booed during a pre-season friendly at the ground.

The sacking of head coach Enzo Maresca and Chelsea's failure to qualify for European football deepened the uncertainty around the World Cup winner. Although Real Madrid have since cooled their interest, Maresca — now at Manchester City — is reportedly keen on a reunion, with Chelsea valuing Fernandez at over £120 million.

With fewer than 24 hours remaining before the transfer deadline, Chelsea are working to finalise a deal for Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara as a potential replacement. However, time is running short, and Fernandez could yet begin the season at west London.

Sanchez also in the cold

Fernandez is not the only squad member whose Stamford Bridge future looks bleak. Goalkeeper Robert Sanchez was also absent from the matchday squad for Chelsea's 4-3 victory over Brighton on Sunday, with new signing Emiliano Martinez — confirmed from Aston Villa for £8.5 million just hours earlier — starting between the posts.

Leboeuf said he was "not surprised" by Sanchez's omission, pointing to the Spaniard's recurring errors: "Everybody made a statement about Robert Sanchez after what happened in the last game he played and the goal he conceded. It was kind of an emergency, and it's why Emiliano Martinez signed. He signed in the morning and played in the afternoon."

The Frenchman added that Sanchez's inconsistency had been a talking point for some time: "It's been a while since we warned everybody about Robert Sanchez's consistency — and that's why they made that choice, and very quickly."

Both Fernandez and Sanchez are expected to be absent when Chelsea travel to face title favourites Arsenal next Sunday, with manager Xabi Alonso facing critical decisions over the future of both players before the window slams shut.