Chelsea have told Manchester City that they must submit a formal bid for Enzo Fernandez by 5pm UK time on Friday if they wish to sign the midfielder before the summer transfer window closes. The west London club have made it clear that any deal will only be considered at their valuation of £120million, and sources close to the situation say the Blues have no intention of moving from that figure regardless of how negotiations unfold over the coming days.
City’s interest in Fernandez is understood to stem largely from his previous working relationship with Enzo Maresca, who managed the Argentine during his time in charge at Stamford Bridge before later taking charge at the Etihad Stadium. That familiarity is thought to be a significant factor behind City’s growing enthusiasm for a move, with the club viewing the 25-year-old as a natural fit for the possession-based system Maresca wants to build in Manchester.
Chelsea, however, are determined not to let the negotiation drag on indefinitely. By imposing a hard deadline, the club are effectively forcing City’s hand, making clear that talks will not remain open beyond Friday afternoon. Should City fail to table an offer that meets Chelsea’s £120million valuation by the deadline, Chelsea are prepared to keep Fernandez for the remainder of the season rather than sanction a cut-price departure. The midfielder currently has six years remaining on his contract, which strengthens Chelsea’s negotiating position considerably and removes any urgency on their part to sell below their asking price.
The stance reflects a broader approach Chelsea have taken throughout this window, where the club have shown a willingness to let deals collapse rather than accept offers that fall short of their valuations. Chelsea’s hierarchy, including the club’s recruitment team, are said to regard Fernandez as an important part of their midfield plans, and any sale would need to represent significant value to the club given his profile and the length of time remaining on his current deal.
Fernandez arrived at Chelsea in a big-money move from Benfica in January 2023 and has since become a regular fixture in the engine room, admired for his passing range, composure on the ball and ability to dictate tempo from deep positions. His versatility has also made him useful in a variety of midfield roles, and Chelsea’s coaching staff have continued to build sections of their game plan around his distribution from midfield.
For City, meeting Chelsea’s asking price would represent a major outlay in a summer where the Premier League champions have already been active in the market. Whether Enzo Maresaca’s club are prepared to commit that level of spending on a single midfielder, particularly one who would arrive with a hefty fee attached, remains to be seen. City will now have to decide within days whether Fernandez is worth matching Chelsea’s demands, or whether they turn their attention elsewhere before the deadline passes.
Chelsea’s willingness to set such a firm cut-off point suggests the club feel they hold the stronger hand in this negotiation. With Fernandez contracted for years to come and no obligation to sell, Chelsea appear comfortable walking away from the table if City do not move quickly. Friday’s deadline now looms as a pivotal moment in the saga, one that could determine whether one of the Premier League’s most sought-after midfielders swaps one title-chasing side for another, or stays at Chelsea beyond this summer.
