Alonso admits Fernandez lacks desire to play for Chelsea as £120m City move looms

Xabi Alonso has publicly acknowledged that Enzo Fernandez does not have the desire to play for Chelsea, confirming he personally held talks with the Argentina midfielder before omitting him from the squad in Thursday’s 2-0 Carabao Cup win over Luton at Stamford Bridge. Manchester City have tabled a £100m bid for the 25-year-old, but Chelsea are holding firm at £120m with Monday’s 11pm transfer deadline approaching.

Alonso was candid in his post-match assessment of the situation. “We need the players that are in the best situation to play,” the Chelsea head coach said. “We need to take everything into consideration — players that are in a good moment, players that are not feeling that energy to play. For me, it is very important they feel this desire to play and to have good preparation.”

The Spaniard, who described Fernandez as a “top player”, confirmed the decision to leave him out was mutual. “We talked and we decided for tonight it was better not to be part of the squad,” Alonso added. Fernandez had featured as a second-half substitute in Chelsea’s 3-2 Premier League win at Fulham on Monday, but his desire to reunite with former Blues manager Enzo Maresca at the Etihad has accelerated his push for the exit.

With the window closing, Chelsea are also managing outgoings elsewhere. Nicolas Jackson is set to complete a move to Aston Villa in a deal worth up to £65m, while Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott has been identified as Alonso’s preferred replacement for Fernandez.

Alonso suggested the club’s summer business is largely on track despite the late activity. “We are quite close to the plan we had,” he said. “We will see where we finish, if it’s fully executed or there are things still to be done. But so far the team is coming together. It is a process that will take time.”

On a more positive note, summer signing Danny Welbeck opened his account for the club against Luton, with his goal helping Chelsea into a third-round Carabao Cup tie at home to Leeds. Alonso was effusive in his praise for the forward’s influence both on and off the pitch. “On a daily basis, he is a great influence for the rest of the players. He trains really hard. He is raising all the standards in training and that is something we think is very important.”