Man City to make offer for £120m-rated Fernandez

Manchester City are preparing to submit an opening bid for Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez, who carries a £120 million valuation. Manager Enzo Maresca has earmarked the Argentina international as a priority to reinforce City’s midfield following a series of high‑profile departures. Chelsea are aware of City’s interest and have set an unofficial deadline for the transfer to be concluded earlier this summer, insisting on a minimum fee of £120 million. City are expected to table another offer for the 25‑year‑old before next week’s transfer deadline. If completed, the move would rank Fernandez among the most expensive signings in Premier League history, surpassed only by Liverpool’s £125 million pursuit of Alexander Isak last summer. Fernandez maintains a positive relationship with Maresca, who left Chelsea in controversial circumstances on New Year’s Day before joining Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium in June. The potential deal could mark the second time City break their transfer record within the same window, after paying £116 million to secure Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest. Other notable midfield movements this period include Tijjani Reijnders’ £52 million sale to Saudi Arabian side Al‑Qadsiah, Barcelona’s £65 million acquisition of Rodri, Newcastle’s agreed £52 million deal for Nico Gonzalez, and Bernardo Silva’s summer exit preceding his move to Real Madrid. Fernandez’s stint at Stamford Bridge has been turbulent. He and his agent, former Paris Saint‑Germain midfielder Javier Pastore, attracted interest from Real Madrid, only for the Spanish club to issue a statement denying any pursuit. The situation has persisted since Chelsea’s Champions League exit to PSG in March, after which Fernandez grew increasingly critical of the club. New Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso referenced a private conversation he held with Fernandez in July, noting that the player signed for £107 million from Benfica in 2023, but declined to reveal specifics of the discussion. Fernandez appeared as a second‑half substitute in Monday’s 3‑2 victory over Fulham and was booed by home supporters because of his perceived involvement in England’s World Cup exit. After briefly celebrating with the away fans and his teammates following the final whistle, he became the first Chelsea player to head down the tunnel. Chelsea’s record transfer remains Eden Hazard’s move to Real Madrid in 2019, which involved an initial £89 million fee plus add‑ons that could raise the total to a possible £150 million.