Former Chelsea star Joe Cole hasn't held back in his assessment of the ongoing Enzo Fernandez saga, bluntly calling the entire situation a "mess." The Argentine midfielder is set to miss Chelsea's crucial clash against Manchester City, serving the final match of a two-game suspension.

The ban stems from comments Fernandez made about his future while on international duty, a misstep that forced a public apology to manager Liam Rosenior and his teammates. While the club has drawn a line under the incident, the handling of the punishment has sparked debate, with reports suggesting some players hoped the ban would be overturned.

Cole, speaking to Four Four Two, acknowledged the club's need to take a stand, especially as this marks the second time Fernandez has found himself in hot water. "It’s a difficult one," Cole stated. "The club has got to take a stand... I must admit, I don’t know if this is the right model. I haven’t thought of a better way, so it’s a mess, it really is."

The timing is far from ideal for the Blues, who will be without a key midfield orchestrator against the reigning champions. All eyes will now be on how the squad responds in a high-pressure fixture, with Fernandez slated to return for next weekend's high-stakes meeting with Manchester United.

In other Chelsea news, the club appears to be pressing ahead with its strategic recruitment, reportedly closing in on a six-year deal for Strasbourg's Argentine midfielder Valentin Barco. If completed, he would follow the path of Mamadou Sarr and Emmanuel Emegha in moving from the French club to Stamford Bridge.