Enzo Fernandez ready to force £120m move to Manchester City despite Chelsea deadline

Manchester City are set to make a formal £120m bid for Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez before the transfer window closes next Tuesday, with the Argentina international ready to push for the move despite Chelsea’s deadline for offers having already passed.

Chelsea had set a strict cut-off two weeks ago for clubs to meet their asking price, but City are pressing ahead regardless. Fernandez, 25, is understood to be keen on joining the Etihad, where he would reunite with head coach Enzo Maresca — the man who led him to Conference League glory and a return to the Champions League during his time at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea will demand a profit on the £106m they paid for Fernandez in January 2023, making the £120m valuation a firm baseline. The club may also insist on securing a replacement before sanctioning any departure, with Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga among those linked as a potential arrival. Those conditions make the deal complex, but City are reportedly determined to get it over the line.

Fernandez’s position at Chelsea has become increasingly uncertain after he was dropped last season following reported interest from Real Madrid. His return to Premier League action as a substitute in Chelsea’s match against Fulham on Monday was met with heavy booing from the home support — a reaction tied to his role in Argentina’s ill-tempered World Cup semi-final victory over England. Chelsea’s own fans, however, sang his name throughout.

Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso acknowledged the situation publicly this week, stopping short of ruling out a sale. “In football, I am not surprised by anything,” Alonso told the BBC. “We will see. My wish is that we know what will happen for the future but we will see this week.”

City have been active on both sides of the market this summer. They have sold Savinho to Tottenham for £75m and are in negotiations with Spurs over Omar Marmoush. The departures of Rodri, Bernardo Silva, and Tijjani Reijnders have reshaped the squad significantly, while Nico González could follow them out the door with a move to Newcastle under discussion. On the inbound side, City have signed Elliot Anderson, 23, and are bringing in Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille — but Maresca is pushing for Fernandez as his marquee addition before the window shuts.