Manchester City will make an opening bid of £100m for Enzo Fernandez, with the Chelsea midfielder desperate to join before the transfer window closes.
The Argentina international remains a target for Etihad bosses despite the club having already secured Morocco World Cup star Ayyoub Bouaddi. Talks with their Premier League rivals had previously stalled after Chelsea set City a deadline of 5pm on August 13 to meet their £120m asking price, a demand City did not meet.
Player's desire and club stance
City are aware the Argentine World Cup winner is keen to make the move. Chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak is now poised to tempt Chelsea with an offer of £100m in the hope of landing the 25-year-old.
Fernandez has become an unpopular figure at Stamford Bridge, where he has been booed by his own fans. He was left out of Xabi Alonso's starting line-up for the win at Fulham this week, before playing the final 30 minutes at Craven Cottage, where away fans cheered him onto the pitch and during the game.
Manager's connection and midfield changes
New City boss Enzo Maresca had a good relationship with Fernandez when he managed him at Chelsea. He made it clear to City bosses when he accepted the job of replacing Pep Guardiola that he would love to have him in his team again.
City have seen Bernardo Silva and Rodri leave the Etihad this summer, while fellow midfielder Nico Gonzalez is poised to join Newcastle in a £50m deal. The final straw for Gonzalez came last weekend, when Maresca selected defender Marc Guehi ahead of him in a holding midfield role for the 2-1 win over Bournemouth.
Potential lineup and deal prospects
Maresca would like to have Fernandez operating in tandem with record signing Elliot Anderson, allowing 18-year-old Bouaddi to continue his development, dipping in and out of the lineup.
It remains to be seen if City, who have kept in close contact with Fernandez's agent Javier Pastore, can strike a deal with Chelsea, although the west London club are open to cutting deals on most of their players.
