Chelsea may have identified an eleventh-hour replacement for Enzo Fernandez.

Chelsea are reportedly engaged in late transfer deadline day talks with AS Roma over a swap arrangement involving midfielder Manu Kone.

As per a report from Sky Italia, Chelsea have made an offer worth around €60m (£52m) to sign the France international from Roma.

In an effort to help move talks forward and match the Italian club’s valuation, the Blues are willing to send 22-year-old winger Jamie Gittens to the Stadio Olimpico. Under the proposed deal, Chelsea would strengthen their central midfield options as Enzo Fernandez edges closer to leaving Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea’s late move for Kone comes amid uncertainty in their own midfield unit. World Cup winner Fernandez continues to attract transfer interest from Manchester City, and a high-value switch to the Etihad Stadium is looking more and more likely before the window shuts.

With the possibility that Fernandez could join City in the closing hours of the market, Chelsea’s recruitment staff have moved proactively for Kone to make sure manager Xabi Alonso is not left short of options in central midfield.

In Kone, Chelsea would be signing a powerful box-to-box midfielder who has already built a reputation as an important performer in Serie A.

The 25-year-old’s capacity to win the ball back, press with intensity and carry possession forward makes him a strong fit for Alonso, especially if he is asked to step into the gap that would be created by Fernandez’s departure.

Meanwhile, allowing Gittens to move to Roma would represent a practical outcome for everyone involved, with regular starts having been hard to come by for him in West London.

Roma have maintained a long-term interest in the former Borussia Dortmund winger and had previously looked into a loan move earlier in the transfer window.

With the deadline drawing near, talks between Chelsea and Roma are said to be advancing quickly. If Chelsea complete Fernandez’s move to Manchester City, the way would be opened for Kone to arrive at Stamford Bridge.