Chelsea have signaled that they are willing to part ways with Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernandez if Manchester City can meet a price they deem satisfactory, while also looking to strengthen their own squad before the transfer window shuts. Although no formal negotiations between the two clubs have been reported so far, the Blues left Fernandez out of the squad that secured a Carabao Cup victory over Luton Town on Thursday night.
After the win, Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso praised Fernandez as a "good professional" who has been training diligently, but he also explained that the decision to include or exclude the player from the upcoming Premier League clash with Brighton would be made closer to the matchday. Alonso’s comments suggest that the coaching staff are keeping their options open, balancing the need for squad depth with the possibility of a lucrative exit. Manchester City’s interest in Fernandez has not waned despite the fact that Chelsea’s internal deadline of August 14 for a potential sale passed without an offer. The Blues had previously reached an understanding with Fernandez’s representatives that a fee of around £120 million would be acceptable by that date, but no bid materialised.
Consequently, the club has reiterated that it is prepared for any scenario that might see players leave before the window closes. In terms of reinforcements, Chelsea are reportedly scouting midfield options such as Alex Scott from Bournemouth and Adam Wharton of Crystal Palace. Both of those clubs consider their respective players to be essential and are unlikely to entertain offers, which complicates Chelsea’s recruitment plans. Meanwhile, City are also eyeing Alex Scott as a potential addition, alongside Roma’s Manu Kone, as they seek to plug the gap left by Rodri’s recent departure to Barcelona.
The need to bolster central midfield has become even more pressing for Manchester City after Rodri’s exit. The English giants have already been active in the market: they secured Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille for a world‑record £86 million for a teenager, added England international Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for £116 million, and saw Nico González move to Newcastle for up to £50 million. They also lost Bernardo Silva on a free transfer to Real Madrid and Tijjani Reijnders departed for Al Qadsiah for £51 million.
These moves underline City’s strategy of refreshing their midfield core while maintaining the quality required to compete on multiple fronts. Returning to Chelsea, the club confirmed a £7.5 million agreement with Aston Villa for goalkeeper Emi Martínez. The Blues have been linked with a late‑season acquisition of Martínez after current first‑choice keeper Robert Sánchez faced criticism for a costly mistake in the recent victory over Fulham.
Martínez, who became available after Villa signed young Japanese prospect Zion Suzuki for nearly £30 million, was also on Juventus’ radar, though the Italian side ultimately opted for Guglielmo Vicario from Tottenham. The goalkeeper situation at Stamford Bridge remains uncertain. Both Sánchez and backup keeper Mike Penders could be under scrutiny as the season progresses.
Penders started the Carabao Cup tie against Luton, while Sánchez featured in the league win at Fulham, indicating that Alonso is rotating his options based on form and fitness. Alonso addressed the decision to sit Fernandez out of the Carabao Cup match in his post‑match press conference. He explained that the choice was purely tactical, stating, "It was just because of the game. We have other players who need minutes." When asked about the timing of the decision, the manager replied that he made the call in the afternoon, emphasizing that it was a strategic move rather than a reflection on Fernandez’s professionalism.
"Enzo is a good professional. He's training well and I have nothing to say about this," Alonso added, confirming that the player’s future involvement would be assessed later, particularly with regard to the upcoming league fixture. Overall, Chelsea appear to be navigating a delicate balancing act: they are open to a substantial offer for Fernandez that meets their valuation, they are actively scouting midfield replacements, and they are addressing goalkeeping concerns with the potential signing of Martínez. Meanwhile, Manchester City continue to reinforce their squad, targeting both established talents and promising youngsters to replace departing stars.
The next few days will likely reveal whether a deal for Fernandez materialises and how both clubs will shape their rosters as the transfer deadline approaches.