Manchester City are reportedly preparing to submit a formal offer for Chelsea's midfield dynamo Enzo Fernandez as the transfer window draws to a close. The English champions have kept their interest alive even though they missed the August 14 deadline that Chelsea had set for receiving bids on the Argentine playmaker. Chelsea, who broke the British transfer record earlier this summer by splashing £117 million on Morgan Rogers, have placed a valuation of around £120 million on Fernandez. The figure reflects the club's original purchase price of £107 million in 2023 plus the premium they expect for a player of his calibre.
City, meanwhile, are in the midst of a substantial reshuffle of their own midfield roster. They have already offloaded veteran Rodri to Barcelona for a reported £65.4 million and sold Tijjani Reijnders to Al Qadsiah for about £51 million.
Bernardo Silva has departed on a free transfer, and Nico González is set to move to Newcastle for roughly £50 million. To replace those departures, City have already broken their own spending record by acquiring Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for £116 million and, just this week, secured Lille's promising youngster Ayyoub Bouaddi for £86 million.
According to Sky Sports News, Fernandez tops the list of targets for new City manager Enzo Maresca, who previously worked alongside the midfielder during his stint at Chelsea. The 25‑year‑old still has six years remaining on his contract, giving the Blues a strong negotiating position.
Fernandez’s recent disciplinary issue – a two‑match suspension handed down after he hinted at a possible exit while on international duty – has not dampened City’s enthusiasm. Earlier in July, Real Madrid were also linked with a move for the Argentine, but the Spanish giants publicly dismissed the speculation.
City’s ambitions in the centre of the park do not stop with Fernandez. The club have also been linked with Bournemouth’s creative midfielder Alex Scott and Roma’s versatile attacker Manu Kone. However, Bournemouth have made it clear that Scott is not for sale this window, despite interest from both City and Chelsea.
Scott, who has two years left on his deal, has reportedly turned down an improved contract offer from his current club, signalling his desire to move elsewhere. Chelsea, on the other hand, are still active in the market. They are reportedly considering a late‑season swoop for Aston Villa’s Argentine goalkeeper Emi Martinez after his representatives approached the London side. Martinez’s potential arrival would provide competition for current No.1 Robert Sánchez, who faced criticism after a costly error in a recent Premier League win over Fulham.
In the short term, Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has confirmed that Fernandez will feature in the upcoming Carabao Cup tie against Luton Town. The midfielder came off the bench in Chelsea’s opening league fixture against Fulham and is expected to start or play a significant role on Thursday.
"Yes, we expect that he's involved," Alonso told reporters. "He's training really well, he's a good professional and he will be involved." When pressed about Fernandez’s future, Alonso was cautious.
"We want to have the best team possible," he said. "We know his qualities; he has shown them, and we have to wait. We'll think about tomorrow and see how things develop." James Savundra of Sky Sports added context about the financial dynamics at play. He noted that Chelsea had set a deadline earlier this month for clubs to submit offers up to £120 million for Fernandez.
While City missed that cut‑off, their continued interest suggests they may be prepared to meet or exceed that figure. However, the relationship between the two clubs has been strained after the departure of former Chelsea manager Maresca last Christmas, a move that forced City to pay Chelsea £17 million in compensation. This history could complicate negotiations, especially if Chelsea decides to hold firm on their asking price. City’s recent activity indicates they have the cash to make a splash.
The club has generated a significant influx of funds by selling a record number of players this window, and Maresca’s personal admiration for Fernandez could tip the scales in favour of a hefty bid. Whether City will ultimately secure the Argentine’s signature remains to be seen, but the combination of a motivated manager, a reshaped midfield, and ample financial resources makes the prospect increasingly plausible.
Fans of both clubs will be watching closely as the deadline approaches, and the next few days could see a dramatic shift in the Premier League’s midfield landscape. If City do succeed, Fernandez would join a squad that is already bolstering its creative options, while Chelsea would need to find a suitable replacement to maintain their competitive edge in both domestic and European competitions. The transfer saga continues to unfold, with live updates available on the Transfer Centre app and Sky Sports’ platforms. Stay tuned for the final outcome as the clock ticks down on this high‑stakes negotiation.