Manchester City did not submit an offer for Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez before the club’s imposed 5pm Friday deadline, with the midfielder now expected to remain at Stamford Bridge for the upcoming campaign. Chelsea valued the Argentina international at £120m and had set the deadline to minimize distractions as the club transitions under new management.
The 25-year-old holds six years remaining on his contract with Chelsea. Prior to the deadline, Chelsea had communicated verbal acceptable terms and conditions to representatives of potential interested clubs, but those arrangements are no longer available following the missed deadline. However, City is not precluded from making a bid before the transfer window closes on September 1, should circumstances change.
The Manchester City manager, who previously managed Chelsea, maintains interest in Fernandez, with whom he shares a strong professional relationship. City’s pursuit of the midfielder may ultimately depend on developments involving Spain captain Rodri, as Barcelona has submitted two rejected bids for the player. Should Barcelona present an acceptable offer for Rodri, City could potentially renew interest in Fernandez despite Chelsea’s stated unwillingness to sell during this window or the winter transfer period.
Tensions between the two clubs stem from the recent departure of the City manager, with Chelsea receiving £17m in compensation following his resignation from a position with three-and-a-half years remaining on his contract. City has already invested £116m to acquire central midfielder Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest and maintains ongoing discussions with Lille regarding Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi.
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