Manchester City are reportedly weighing the option of submitting a bid for Chelsea's midfield dynamo Enzo Fernandez before the closing of the summer transfer window. Despite having missed the initial deadline set by Chelsea on 14 August to present a formal offer, the English champions have not abandoned their pursuit of the Argentine playmaker. Chelsea, who broke the British transfer record earlier this summer by paying £117 million for Morgan Rogers, have placed a valuation of roughly £120 million on Fernandez. That figure reflects the fee they originally paid for him – £107 million – plus the premium they expect after a season of strong performances.
City, meanwhile, are in the midst of a substantial reshuffle of their own midfield ranks. They have already off‑loaded Rodri to Barcelona for £65.4 million and Tijjani Reijnders to Al Qadsiah for £51 million, released veteran Bernardo Silva and are set to see Nico González move to Newcastle for around £50 million. In return, they have splashed out £116 million for Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest and, on Wednesday, secured Lille’s promising youngster Ayyoub Bouaddi for £86 million.
According to Sky Sports News, Fernandez tops the list of targets for City manager Enzo Maresca – a former Chelsea assistant who worked closely with the midfielder during his time at the West London club. The 25‑year‑old still has six years remaining on his contract with Chelsea, giving the Blues a strong negotiating position. Fernandez’s recent disciplinary episode – a two‑match suspension after he hinted at a possible departure while on international duty – only heightened speculation about his future. Earlier in July, Real Madrid were linked with the player, but the Spanish giants publicly dismissed the notion.
City’s midfield ambitions extend beyond Fernandez. The club is also monitoring Bournemouth’s Alex Scott and Roma’s Manu Kone as potential reinforcements. However, Bournemouth have made it clear that Scott is not for sale, and any approach is likely to be rebuffed.
Chelsea have also expressed interest in Scott, despite his own reluctance to sign a new contract that would keep him at the club for another two years. In the goalkeeping department, Chelsea are contemplating a late‑season acquisition of Aston Villa’s Argentine keeper Emi Martinez. Martinez’s agents have reportedly reached out to the Blues, who are currently dissatisfied with the form of their No 1, Robert Sánchez, after a costly error in a recent victory over Fulham.
Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has confirmed that Fernandez will feature in the upcoming Carabao Cup clash with Luton Town. The midfielder, who came off the bench in Chelsea’s opening league fixture against Fulham, is expected to start or at least play a significant role on Thursday. "Yes, we expect that he's involved," Alonso told reporters on Wednesday. "He's training very well, he's a professional, and he'll be part of the squad." When pressed about the player's long‑term future, Alonso replied, "We want to have the best team possible.
We know his qualities, he has shown them, and we will see how things develop after tomorrow's match." James Savundra of Sky Sports added context to the ongoing saga: "Earlier this month Chelsea set a deadline for clubs to submit a bid of up to £120 million for Fernandez. Manchester City missed that deadline, but their interest remains. The relationship between the two clubs is strained after the fallout over Maresca’s departure around Christmas, which forced City to pay Chelsea £17 million in compensation.
It remains to be seen how flexible Chelsea will be in negotiations now that the asking price is known." City’s financial muscle appears robust after a record‑breaking summer of player sales, suggesting they have the resources to meet or even exceed Chelsea’s valuation. Maresca’s personal admiration for Fernandez could further motivate the club to make a decisive move before the window shuts. As the deadline approaches, fans of both clubs will be watching closely to see whether a deal materialises or whether Fernandez will remain a Chelsea player for the foreseeable future. The transfer market continues to deliver drama, and this potential high‑profile swap could shape the midfield dynamics of two of England's biggest teams for years to come.