Chelsea have signalled that they are ready to part ways with Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernandez, should Manchester City present a price that satisfies the Blues' valuation. The Blues are also keen to use any potential proceeds to strengthen their squad before the transfer window shuts.
While no formal negotiations have been reported between the two clubs, the latest developments suggest that City remain interested even though they missed the initial deadline of 14 August to lodge a bid. Fernandez was omitted from Chelsea's squad for Thursday's Carabao Cup victory over Luton Town, a decision that sparked a flurry of speculation about his future. Manager Xabi Alonso addressed the omission in the post‑match press conference, describing the Argentine as "a good professional" who has been training well.
Alonso explained that the choice to leave him out was purely tactical, noting that other squad members needed game time and that the decision was made that afternoon. He added that the club would reassess Fernandez's availability for the upcoming Premier League clash with Brighton on Sunday, with the final call to be made closer to the match.
The interest from Manchester City persists despite the fact that they failed to meet Chelsea's original deadline for a £120 million offer, a figure that had been agreed upon with Fernandez's representatives as the minimum acceptable price. No formal proposal arrived before the cut‑off, leaving the Blues in a position where they must decide whether to wait for a later bid or explore alternative options. Alonso also hinted that Chelsea are prepared for any eventuality concerning players who might depart before the window closes. In particular, the club has identified a handful of midfield targets to replace Fernandez should a deal materialise.
Among the names circulating are Bournemouth's Alex Scott and Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton. Both clubs have reportedly placed high price tags on their assets, making a swift acquisition challenging. Manchester City, on the other hand, have listed Alex Scott as a potential addition alongside Roma's Manu Kone, reflecting their desire to reinforce the central midfield area after the unexpected sale of Rodri to Barcelona earlier this month. The midfield reshuffle at City has been dramatic.
Rodri's departure left a significant void in Pep Guardiola's engine room, prompting the English champions to pursue multiple options. In recent weeks, City have completed a series of high‑profile signings: Ayyoub Bouaddi arrived from Lille for a world‑record £86 million for a teenager, while England international Elliot Anderson joined from Nottingham Forest for £116 million. At the same time, they have seen departures, with Nico González moving to Newcastle for up to £50 million, Tijjani Reijnders heading to Al Qadsiah for £51 million, and veteran Bernardo Silva leaving on a free transfer to Real Madrid after his contract expired.
Back at Chelsea, the club has also been active in the goalkeeper market. They have reached an agreement with Aston Villa for the transfer of Emi Martínez for a fee reported to be around £7.5 million.
The move comes after first‑choice keeper Robert Sánchez faced criticism for a costly error in the recent win over Fulham. Martínez, who was on the move after Villa signed Zion Suzuki from Parma for nearly £30 million, had also attracted interest from Juventus, though they ultimately opted for Guglielmo Vicario from Tottenham Hotspur.
The arrival of Martínez could see a reshuffle in the goalkeeping hierarchy, with questions now lingering over the future of both Sánchez and backup Mike Penderi, who started the Carabao Cup tie against Luton. In summary, Chelsea are positioning themselves to negotiate a lucrative exit for Fernandez, while simultaneously scouting midfield reinforcements to maintain squad balance. Manchester City remain eager to secure the Argentine, despite having missed the original deadline, and are also looking at other midfield prospects to fill the gap left by Rodri. Both clubs are navigating a busy transfer period, with multiple high‑value deals already confirmed and several more likely to unfold before the window shuts.
The next few weeks will be crucial in determining whether Fernandez will don the sky‑blue of Manchester City or if Chelsea will redirect the funds toward new acquisitions to bolster their campaign across all competitions.