Manchester City weigh late Enzo Fernández bid as Chelsea brace for approach

Manchester City are weighing a late move for Enzo Fernández as Chelsea prepare for the possibility of an offer, reviving a transfer story that appeared to have stalled after an earlier deadline passed without a bid.

Sky Sports reports that City are considering an approach for the Argentina midfielder, who remains one of Enzo Maresca’s leading targets as the Premier League champions continue reshaping their midfield. No formal offer has yet been confirmed and there is no agreement between the clubs.

Chelsea had previously indicated that any serious proposal would need to reach around £120 million, with an earlier deadline of 14 August passing without City making a move. That did not end the club’s interest, however, and the situation has now reopened in the final stretch of the transfer window.

The Guardian has separately reported that Chelsea are expecting City to test their position, adding further weight to the possibility of a late bid rather than simple exploratory interest.

Fernández remains part of Chelsea’s immediate plans. Xabi Alonso said on Wednesday that the 25-year-old would be available for the club’s next match against Luton, but stopped short of giving an absolute guarantee that the midfielder would remain at Stamford Bridge beyond the deadline.

That distinction matters. Chelsea are not treating Fernández as a player they need to sell, and City would therefore have to decide whether to meet a valuation designed to reflect both his importance to Alonso’s team and the limited time available to replace him.

City’s interest also comes against the backdrop of a wider midfield rebuild. The club have already added Ayyoub Bouaddi in a deal worth around €100 million, but remain open to further additions as Maresca looks to shape the next version of his side.

For Chelsea, the leverage is straightforward: Fernández is under contract, available for selection and central to the squad. For City, the calculation is whether the player’s profile and Maresca’s familiarity with him justify a late investment at a figure Chelsea would find difficult to reject.

With no bid yet confirmed, the transfer remains short of an advanced stage. But after City allowed Chelsea’s first deadline to expire, the fact that a formal approach is again under consideration has put Fernández back among the most significant unresolved stories of the closing days of the window.