This summer's transfer deadline day was dominated by Chelsea and their midfield situation.
The Blues had agreed to sell Enzo Fernandez to Manchester City for a record-equaling £125 million fee, and were left needing a replacement.
They had approaches for Manu Kone and Lamine Camara turned down, but remained interested in the Senegal international as the deadline approached.
They were then involved in one of the most memorable transfer U-turns in recent windows, as AS Monaco reneged on an agreement to transfer Camara at the 11th hour, leaving them feeling very displeased.
Xabi Alonso had spoken to the player and wanted him at Stamford Bridge to bolster his midfield options, but he will not sweat too much over the failure to sign him.
The Spanish tactician has a track record of trusting young players to get the job done, and Chelsea are stocked in that department.
Midfield Void and Injury Precautions: Why Chelsea Scrambled on Deadline Day
Chelsea were left in a bit of a fix as transfer deadline approached due to the state of their midfield.
The Blues have only five senior midfielders, one of whom was signed this summer with an injury and is yet to make his debut for the club.
Of the quintet, Moises Caicedo has started the season with what looks like a muscular problem after playing a great deal of minutes in the last two years.
Romeo Lavia and Reece James have had well-documented struggles with injuries, with Lavia still yet to complete 90 minutes in a competitive fixture for the Blues.
Against Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend, full-back Malo Gusto was deployed in midfield as Alonso sought to manage minutes, and it is far from an ideal situation.
The club sought to bring in a plug-and-play option who would be ready for action immediately, as any further fitness complications will leave them dangerously light in the position.
The Alonso Blueprint: How the Spaniard's Track Record Proves Youth Will Get Their Chance
Rather than despair over his club's failure to bring in any other midfield targets this summer, Xabi Alonso possesses the tactical bravery to take control of the situation.
During his time at Bayer Leverkusen, he helped to develop raw, high-potential talents like Florian Wirtz, Piero Hincapie, and Jeremie Frimpong into top-level performers.
Last summer, he trusted Real Madrid academy graduate Gonzalo Garcia to lead the line at the FIFA Club World Cup in the absence of Kylian Mbappe, and the striker has now ended up in the Premier League.
His experience as a youth coach with Real Sociedad makes him able to platform young players in ways that he can get the best out of them without exposing them too much.
Alonso's usual midfield configuration rewards tactical discipline, press resistance, and physical hunger, qualities that are usually abundant in younger players looking to impress.
Barco, Nicoll-Jazuli, and Watson: The Next Generation Ready to Step Up
To the outside eye, Chelsea's midfield may look threadbare, but Alonso knows that he has an exceptionally gifted contingent of young talent waiting in the wings.
The Blues paid for Valentin Barco to join them from Strasbourg this summer, and he showed why in the Carabao Cup win over Luton Town.
The Argentina international is a master of space and time on the ball in midfield, and is capable of sliding into multiple positions due to his prior experience as a left-back.
He is technically-gifted and will be a key player for Alonso's side this season, from what he has shown throughout his career thus far.
Another choice would be 16-year-old sensation Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli, who impressed in pre-season under Alonso this summer.
The teenager has been promoted to the Cobham Next Gen squad and has made three appearances already this season, impressing in midfield.
He played in for a total of 244 minutes across four preseason games this summer, starting twice, including against Juventus.
Another 16-year-old, Reggie Watson, can also play in midfield for the team, after earning Alonso's trust in pre-season.
Like Nicoll-Jazuli, he also played four times in pre-season, and has been named on the bench once already this term by the Spanish tactician.
These youngsters are ready to give Alonso dynamic, highly motivated options whenever fresh legs are demanded at any point this season.