Chelsea have made it clear that they are willing to let midfielder Enzo Fernandez depart for Manchester City, provided the offer meets their valuation and they can still strengthen their squad before the transfer window shuts. While no formal negotiations between the two clubs have been reported, the Blues chose to leave Fernandez out of the Carabao Cup victory over Luton Town on Thursday, sparking speculation about his future. After the win, Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso praised Fernandez as a "good professional" who has been training diligently. He added that a decision on whether the Argentine will be available for the upcoming Premier League clash with Brighton will be taken closer to matchday.
Alonso’s comments suggest that the omission was tactical rather than disciplinary, and that the player remains in the manager’s plans for the short term. Manchester City’s interest in Fernandez has persisted despite the fact that Chelsea’s deadline for a £120 million sale, set for 14 August, passed without an offer. The club had previously reached an understanding with Fernandez’s representatives that a fee of around £120 million would be acceptable, but no formal bid materialised before the cut‑off.
Consequently, City’s pursuit has continued into the later stages of the window, with the Blues indicating they are prepared for any outcome involving players who might leave before the final day. In the meantime, Chelsea are actively scouting midfield reinforcements. Two names that have surfaced are Alex Scott from Bournemouth and Adam Wharton of Crystal Palace.
Both clubs, however, view their young talents as essential to their own projects and are unlikely to entertain offers, making a swift replacement for Fernandez a challenging task. City, on the other hand, have also listed Scott as a target, alongside Roma’s promising midfielder Manu Kone, as they look to plug the gap left by Rodri’s recent move to Barcelona. The midfield market has been particularly lively this summer.
Manchester City have already completed several high‑profile signings: Ayyoub Bouaddi arrived from Lille for a record‑breaking £86 million for a teenager, while England international Elliot Anderson was secured from Nottingham Forest for £116 million. At the same time, the club said goodbye to a few key figures – Nico Gonzalez moved to Newcastle for up to £50 million, Tijjani Reijnders transferred to Al Qadsiah for £51 million, and veteran Bernardo Silva left on a free transfer to join Real Madrid after his contract expired.
Alonso explained his decision to sit Fernandez out of the Carabao Cup tie, stating it was simply a matter of squad rotation and giving other players minutes. "It was just because of the game," he said in the post‑match press conference. "We have other players who need minutes. The decision was taken in the afternoon and it was purely tactical.
Enzo is a good professional, he trains well, and I have nothing negative to say about him. We'll assess his availability for Sunday." Beyond the midfield saga, Chelsea have also been active in the goalkeeping department.
The club has reportedly agreed to a £7.5 million deal with Aston Villa for the services of Emi Martinez. This move follows criticism of current number one Robert Sánchez after a costly error in the recent win over Fulham. Martinez became available after Villa signed Zion Suzuki from Parma for nearly £30 million, and although Juventus showed interest, they ultimately opted for Guglielmo Vicario from Tottenham. The potential departure of both Sánchez and backup keeper Mike Penders raises questions about the goalkeeping hierarchy at Stamford Bridge for the remainder of the season.
Penders started the Carabao Cup match against Luton, while Sánchez was in goal for the league win at Fulham, indicating that Alonso is still weighing his options. Overall, Chelsea appear to be navigating a delicate balancing act: they want to secure a substantial fee for Fernandez, but they also need to ensure the squad remains competitive as the season progresses.
With the transfer window drawing to a close, the club’s ability to attract suitable replacements – whether from the Premier League or abroad – will be crucial. Fans can expect further updates as negotiations unfold and as Xabi Alonso continues to shape his squad for the challenges ahead.