Manchester City have held talks to sign Enzo Fernandez, and Chelsea are now willing to sanction a transfer for the right price, Fabrizio Romano has revealed.
Chelsea missed out on European qualification entirely last season, but Fernandez certainly cannot be blamed, with the midfielder putting in some stellar performances in the Premier League, collecting ten goals and four assists in 36 matches.
That followed high praise from captain Reece James in the summer of 2025, with the right-back describing him as “phenomenal” ahead of the Club World Cup final, while also adding: “Enzo Fernandez is an amazing player and person. He’s come on so much since he arrived at Chelsea, and he’s a huge part of Chelsea Football Club. He’s a huge player for our team.”
Of course, the moment that sticks out from the World Cup is the 25-year-old receiving a red card against Spain in the final, but he otherwise had a very solid tournament, scoring two goals and averaging 65.2 accurate passes per 90.
For reference, only three City players averaged a higher number of passes per 90 in the Premier League last season, namely Nico Gonzalez (68.3), Ruben Dias (68.5) and Rodri (86.7).
However, with Rodri now attracting major interest from Barcelona, Enzo Maresca may need to bring in a new midfielder this summer, and there has been a fresh update on their pursuit of Fernandez.
Man City hold agent talks to sign Enzo Fernandez
According to Fabrizio Romano, Man City have held talks with Fernandez’s agent, but Chelsea aren’t willing to sell the Argentinian on the cheap, having set a £120m price tag. The Blues would also be willing to keep hold of the 25-year-old, should City be unwilling to match their asking price.
Maresca is clearly a big fan of the central midfielder, with Romano also revealing the ex-Chelsea boss “would love to reunite” with his former player.
|
Man City’s potential midfield pairing |
Fee |
From |
Why they’re a good fit |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Elliot Anderson |
£116m |
Nottingham Forest |
With Rodri seemingly heading for the exit door, it was important for City to sign a proven Premier League midfielder, and Anderson has shades of the World Cup winner. Perhaps most importantly, he is very comfortable in possession, averaging 55.0 accurate passes per 90 in the league last season, which was more than any other Forest player. |
|
Enzo Fernandez |
£120m asking price |
Chelsea |
Fernandez could also be a savvy addition to City’s squad, as Maresca knows him well from their time working together at Stamford Bridge. The Argentinian is very experienced at the top level, having played in two World Cup finals, and he has a keen eye for goal, finding the net on 15 occasions for the Blues in all competitions last season. |
Amid the uncertainty surrounding Rodri’s future, Man City have also been pursuing a move for Lille star Ayyoub Bouaddi, and direct talks have been held.
