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Chelsea have made it clear that Enzo Fernandez will not be allowed to leave Stamford Bridge unless Manchester City meet their £120 million valuation before the club’s deadline.
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Manchester City are monitoring the Argentine midfielder as uncertainty grows around Rodri, whose future could be affected by Barcelona’s renewed interest.
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Chelsea are determined to avoid a late transfer saga and want Fernandez settled as Xabi Alonso’s side prepares for the new season.
August 13, (THEWILL) — Chelsea have drawn a firm line over Enzo Fernandez’s future, with Manchester City facing a short window to decide whether they are prepared to meet the London club’s £120 million valuation of the Argentine midfielder.
City have shown interest in Fernandez and are considering whether to make a move before the summer transfer window closes. However, Chelsea have made it clear that they will not entertain a prolonged negotiation and have reportedly given the Premier League champions until 5 pm on Friday to submit an offer if they want to pursue the deal.
The stance underlines Chelsea’s reluctance to lose one of their most important midfielders at this stage of the summer. Fernandez still has six years remaining on his contract, giving the Blues a strong negotiating position as they seek to prevent a late approach from turning into a major disruption.
Fernandez joined Chelsea from Benfica in January 2023 in a deal worth around £107 million and has since established himself as an influential figure in the club’s midfield. Chelsea’s current valuation would, therefore, represent another significant increase on the amount they originally paid for him.
Manchester City’s interest is partly linked to the uncertainty surrounding Rodri. Barcelona are pushing to sign the Spain international and are expected to return with an improved offer after City rejected their initial proposal of around £40 million.
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Although City would prefer to keep Rodri, the midfielder is entering the final year of his contract. Any agreement with Barcelona could force Pep Guardiola’s side to accelerate plans for a replacement, with Fernandez emerging as one of the players who could potentially fill the void.
City have already been active in midfield this summer, spending a reported £116 million to bring Elliot Anderson to the club from Nottingham Forest. They are also in talks with Lille over highly rated Morocco international Ayyoub Bouaddi, showing that the club has several options should further changes be required in the position.
Fernandez’s previous relationship with former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca could also add another layer to the situation. Maresca left Chelsea before taking charge at City, with the Manchester club paying compensation to secure his services.
Chelsea are understood to be keen to avoid another drawn-out transfer situation after the circumstances surrounding Maresca’s departure. The club wants its new manager, Xabi Alonso, and his squad to have maximum focus ahead of the new campaign rather than being distracted by uncertainty over a key player.
Fernandez himself has previously been at the centre of speculation about his future. In April, he was left out of the Chelsea team for two matches after comments suggesting that he would welcome the possibility of living in Madrid. The midfielder and his representatives subsequently apologised, while there had also been discussions over improved terms at Stamford Bridge.
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Real Madrid have since distanced themselves from reports linking them with a move for the Argentine, leaving Manchester City as the major club currently associated with the midfielder.
For Chelsea, the message is straightforward: Fernandez can leave, but only if City are willing to pay what they consider his value. If that figure is not met by Friday’s deadline, the Blues intend to keep the midfielder and move forward with him as part of Alonso’s plans for the season.
With the transfer window closing on September 1, City therefore have little time to decide whether Fernandez is worth the enormous investment. The next move now rests with the Premier League champions.
Olumide Atiba is a sports journalist with THEWILL, known for his keen news sense and compelling storytelling. He has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, well-structured reports that resonate with readers, with a strong focus on football coverage
