Enzo Fernandez is ready to make a £120m last-minute move to Manchester City. Chelsea are braced for City to make a bid for the Argentina midfielder in what will be their biggest deal of the summer.
Fernandez, 25, is believed to be keen on moving to the Etihad, which would mean a reunion with City boss Enzo Maresca. Chelsea will demand a profit on the £106m they paid for Fernandez in 2023, while they may also insist on getting a replacement lined up. They have been linked with Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga, and any deal for Fernandez would be complicated - but City are ready to make a push to make it happen.
Deadline passed but City push on
Chelsea set a strict deadline for clubs to meet their £120m price two weeks ago - and that has now passed. But City are ready to make a formal bid to get the mega deal over the line before the transfer window shuts next Tuesday.
Fernandez has been unsettled at Chelsea since being axed last season for flirting with Real Madrid. He was heavily booed by Fulham fans in his first appearance in the Premier League as a substitute on Monday night. That was a reaction to Fernandez's part in Argentina's bad-tempered win over England in the World Cup semi-final.
Alonso wants clarity
Interestingly, Chelsea fans sang his name, and Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso also made it clear he wants clarity over Fernandez's future this week. Alonso told the BBC: "In football, I am not surprised by anything. We will see. My wish is that we know what will happen for the future but we will see this week."
City have been busy in the transfer market and have completed the sale of Savinho - who will be known as Sávio - to Tottenham for £75m without add-ons and are also negotiating a deal with them for Omar Marmoush. Rodri, Bernardo Silva and Tijjani Reijnders have departed, and Nico González could be sold to Newcastle. They have bought Elliot Anderson, 23, and are bringing in Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille, but Maresca is keen for a reunion with Fernandez.
Fernandez helped Chelsea win a European trophy, get back into the Champions League, and also win the Club World Cup under Maresca.
