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City open talks
Manchester City have opened direct club-to-club talks with Chelsea over a move to sign midfielder Enzo Fernandez, with the negotiations framed as a key narrative on transfer deadline day.
“Chelsea want a minimum of £120m for Fernandez”
BBC reported that Chelsea want a minimum of £120m for Fernandez and that talks are under way as both clubs negotiate a price, with Fernandez, 25, also described as open to a move to City.
The BBC also said Fernandez worked with City manager Enzo Maresca during the Italian's reign at Chelsea, and that personal terms are not expected to be an issue if the clubs agree a price.
Sky Sports said City have opened direct club-to-club talks with Chelsea to sign Enzo Fernandez, noting that City missed Chelsea's August 14 deadline to bid for him and that Chelsea had agreed with Fernandez's representatives that he could be sold for £120m by that deadline, but an offer never arrived.
Deadline pressure
Football London said Chelsea finally received their first official Manchester City transfer bid for Enzo Fernandez and that City were pushing to sign him before Tuesday night's 11pm deadline, despite City missing Chelsea's August 14 deadline to bid for him.
In the same report, Blues boss Xabi Alonso said, "We are not sure, we are preparing for all the scenarios but I am sure that whatever happens from Wednesday we will have a good enough squad to compete in all the Premier League games."
The Guardian added that City were poised to bolster their attack by buying Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye for up to £65m while also opening talks with Chelsea over a deal to sign Enzo Fernández, with Chelsea set at a price of £120m and potentially pushing for a higher fee as the deadline drew close.
Sky Sports also tied the urgency to Rodri’s departure to Barcelona earlier this month, saying reinforcing central midfield had become an even bigger priority for City following that move.
Who might move next
The Guardian reported that Chelsea were tracking Roma’s Manu Koné and Monaco’s Lamine Camara as potential replacements for Fernández, while also noting resistance in attempts to sign Bournemouth’s Alex Scott and that Crystal Palace want to keep Adam Wharton.
“Chelsea are tracking Roma’s Manu Koné and Monaco’s Lamine Camara”
BBC said Fernandez could become one of the most expensive signings in Premier League history, behind only Liverpool's £125m move for Alexander Isak last summer, and it also listed other midfield departures including Tijjani Reijnders sold to Saudi Arabian club Al-Qadsiah for £52m and Barcelona signing Rodri for £65m.
Sky Sports said City have completed the signing of Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille for £86m and that England international Elliot Anderson joined City in a £116m deal from Nottingham Forest in July, placing Fernandez’s potential arrival within a broader midfield overhaul.
Chosunbiz described Chelsea’s minimum asking transfer fee as 120 million pounds and said the two clubs were negotiating over the specific amount, with the report adding that personal terms are not expected to be a problem if an agreement is reached.