Man City launch Deadline Day push for Enzo Fernandez as Chelsea

Manchester City are preparing a major Deadline Day push to sign Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez in what could become one of the biggest transfers of the summer.

According to the BBC, City intend to step up their efforts on Tuesday to secure the 25-year-old Argentina international, who is reportedly open to moving to Manchester.

Chelsea's position remains the major obstacle. The Blues do not want to sell Fernandez for less than £130million (€140m), meaning City would have to break their transfer record to complete the deal.

City's interest in Fernandez has developed into one of the biggest stories of the closing stages of the window.

The Premier League club are now expected to make a serious attempt to reach an agreement with Chelsea before the deadline.

Fernandez is said to be favourable towards the transfer, which would reunite him with Enzo Maresca.

The pair previously worked together at Chelsea between July 2024 and January 2026, giving Maresca an established relationship with the midfielder as he continues rebuilding City's squad.

The player's willingness to move therefore does not appear to be the main issue. Finding an agreement between the two clubs will be considerably more difficult.

Chelsea have placed an enormous valuation on Fernandez and are unwilling to sanction a discounted Deadline Day departure.

Their asking price is reported to be at least £130m (€140m).

That figure represents an increase on the £120m valuation previously surrounding Fernandez and reflects Chelsea's difficult position so late in the window.

Selling one of their leading midfielders on Deadline Day would leave Xabi Alonso with virtually no time to secure a replacement of comparable quality.

Fernandez has already been left out of Chelsea's squad amid uncertainty surrounding his future, but the Blues have maintained a strong negotiating position throughout City's pursuit.

Meeting Chelsea's valuation would make Fernandez the most expensive signing in Manchester City's history.

City's current record was established earlier this summer when they paid £116m (€135m) for Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest.

A £130m agreement for Fernandez would comfortably surpass that figure and represent another extraordinary investment in Maresca's midfield.

City have already reshaped that area of the squad considerably, including the arrival of Ayyoub Bouaddi, while Nico Gonzalez departed for Newcastle United.

Fernandez would provide another elite technical midfielder and one Maresca already knows well.

Everything now depends on whether City are prepared to move close enough to Chelsea's valuation to produce a Deadline Day breakthrough.

City are expected to intensify their efforts on Tuesday, but Chelsea's £130m valuation leaves a substantial obstacle to overcome.

With Fernandez receptive to the move, the decisive negotiations will be between the clubs. City must either meet Chelsea's demands or find a compromise before the window closes, while the Blues must consider whether there is enough time to replace such an important midfielder.