How Man City could still sign Enzo Fernandez after Chelsea deadline

Chelsea believe Enzo Fernández will remain at Stamford Bridge after Man City failed to meet the Blues’ 5pm deadline on Friday, but that isn’t to say a move is completely off the table.

City were told they had until that point to submit a formal offer worth £120 million. The clock ran down without one arriving, despite some reports to the contrary, leaving Chelsea to withdraw the terms on which they had been prepared to sell.

It was a deliberately firm stance.

Chelsea did not want one of Xabi Alonso’s most important players dragged into a deadline day scramble, particularly when replacing him at short notice would have been almost impossible.

REUTERS/David Klein

Fernandez is tied down until 2032 and the club were never under pressure to accept a cut-price deal, and the expectation at Stamford Bridge is now that the Argentine stays.

That will suit Alonso, who has been planning with Fernandez at the heart of his midfield. The 25-year-old played 36 Premier League games last season, scoring 10 goals and supplying four assists as his attacking influence continued to grow.

Man City’s admiration has still caused a major stir.

New boss Enzo Maresca knows Fernandez extremely well from their season together at Chelsea. He pushed the midfielder into more advanced areas, trusted him with greater responsibility and helped unlock the goal threat which had been missing during his first year in England.

A reunion would make sense for City, whose midfield is changing quickly.

REUTERS/Jason Cairnduff

Bernardo Silva has left, Tijjani Reijnders is set to join Al-Qadsiah and Barcelona have already tested City’s resolve over Rodri. Elliot Anderson has arrived from Nottingham Forest in a British record deal, while reported talks have also taken place for Lille youngster Ayyoub Bouaddi.

City have allowed Chelsea’s preferred route to close, but their interest is still there, and they could go back in for him before deadline day.

How Man City could still sign Enzo Fernández after Chelsea deadline

According to talkSPORT journalist Ben Jacobs, Chelsea’s position is that the £120 million proposal is no longer available.

City can still make a bid because their interest has not disappeared, but any approach after the cutoff may require a fresh payment structure.

Sources at the Etihad have also reportedly pointed towards Chelsea’s pursuit of Fernandez in 2023.

Benfica repeatedly insisted during that window that their midfielder was not for sale, yet Chelsea continued negotiating and eventually completed a British record £106.8 million transfer in the final minutes.

City may feel that history leaves room for another late twist, with the Sky Blues not completely out of the race for him yet, according to Jacobs.

The difference is that Chelsea now control both the contract and the timetable. They have set their boundary, allowed City a clear opportunity to act and started preparing for the new campaign with Fernandez still involved.

A late offer cannot be ruled out, especially while City continue reshaping their midfield.

But simply returning with the same numbers may no longer be enough.

If Maresca wants his former Chelsea star, City must now produce a package persuasive enough to make the Blues reopen a door they have publicly closed.