Chelsea have yet to receive an official proposal from Manchester City for midfielder Enzo Fernandez, and the club’s self-imposed deadline of 5 p.m. on Friday is fast approaching. City have expressed a clear interest in the 25‑year‑old, a player who previously worked closely with Enzo Maresca when the Spaniard was in charge at Chelsea.
The Blues have placed a valuation of roughly £120 million on Fernandez, who still has six years remaining on his current contract. Earlier on Friday, before the Community Shield clash with Arsenal, Maresca hinted that Manchester City were unlikely to make a move before Chelsea’s cut‑off time. When pressed about the looming deadline, he responded candidly: “Not today, to be honest – I don’t think we’ll do anything today.” This statement underscored the tension between the two clubs as the transfer window edges toward its closure on Tuesday, 1 September.
If Manchester City fail to meet Chelsea’s asking price, the London club has made it clear they will not consider selling Fernandez either in this summer’s market or in the January window. To date, no formal bids have been lodged for the Portuguese international during this transfer season. The situation is further complicated by Barcelona’s recent activity.
The Catalan side attempted to sign Manchester City’s own midfielder Rodri, submitting a £40 million offer that was turned down. That rebuff has sparked speculation that City might launch a late‑season bid for Fernandez in order to balance their squad after the Rodri saga.
Chelsea originally acquired Fernandez from Benfica in the winter window of 2023 for around £107 million. The club now values him higher, reflecting his development and the length of his contract. However, the player’s recent off‑field comments have added another layer of intrigue. In April, Fernandez was dropped from the squad for two matches after he admitted in an interview that he would welcome a move to Madrid.
Both the player and his agent later issued an apology, saying they were merely seeking better contractual terms at Chelsea. Real Madrid, meanwhile, issued a statement earlier this summer denying any intention to pursue Fernandez, although rumors continue to swirl. Barcelona, on the other hand, appears prepared to increase its bid for Rodri, potentially reaching the £50‑£60 million range. Should that deal fall through, City could feel pressured to act quickly on Fernandez before the deadline expires.
Relations between Manchester City and Chelsea have been strained since Maresca’s contentious departure from the Blues. City paid Chelsea a £17 million compensation package to secure Maresca’s services this summer, after the manager resigned with three and a half years left on his contract at the end of 2025. The fallout from Maresca’s exit, announced on New Year’s Day, prompted Chelsea to impose a firm deadline on any interested clubs, aiming to avoid the distractions that plagued the squad during that period. Chelsea’s new manager, Xabi Alonso, and his incoming players now have a short window to focus on pre‑season preparations without the cloud of transfer speculation.
The club’s board believes that interested parties have had roughly two months to make an approach, and they are keen to resolve the matter swiftly. Beyond Fernandez, Manchester City have other targets on their radar. They are reportedly in ongoing negotiations with Lille for Moroccan midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi and have already secured the signing of central midfielder Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for a reported £116 million.
Additionally, there is interest from Nottingham Forest in Manchester City’s Dutch winger Tijjani Reijnders, adding further complexity to the market. In summary, Chelsea remain steadfast on their valuation of Enzo Fernandez and have set a clear deadline to force a decision. Manchester City must decide whether to meet the £120 million price tag or walk away, potentially leaving the player at Stamford Bridge for the upcoming season.
With the transfer window closing on 1 September, both clubs are under pressure to finalize their plans, while the broader European market continues to shift around high‑profile targets like Rodri and other midfield talents.