Manchester City have started negotiations with Chelsea over a deadline-day move for midfielder Enzo Fernandez, with the London club seeking at least £120m for the Argentina international.
The discussions could develop into one of the biggest transfers of the summer window. City have now made their interest formal, although the two Premier League clubs still need to bridge the gap over Fernandez’s valuation.
Chelsea have been aware of City’s interest for some time and had previously indicated that they would only consider selling the 25-year-old for a minimum fee of £120m. An unofficial deadline set earlier in the summer passed without an agreement, but talks have now reopened as the transfer window approaches its conclusion.
City manager Enzo Maresca is pushing for a reunion with Fernandez after working with the midfielder during his time in charge of Chelsea. Fernandez is also understood to be receptive to joining City, meaning personal terms are unlikely to delay the transfer if the clubs settle on a fee.
A £120m deal would place Fernandez among the most expensive players in Premier League history, with only Liverpool’s £125m signing of Alexander Isak last summer carrying a higher fee.
It could also see City break their own transfer record for the second time in the same window. The club already spent £116m to sign Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest.
City’s pursuit of Fernandez comes during a major reshaping of their midfield. Tijjani Reijnders has joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Qadsiah for £52m, Rodri moved to Barcelona for £65m, Newcastle agreed a £52m deal for Nico Gonzalez, and Bernardo Silva left earlier in the summer before signing for Real Madrid.
Those departures have increased City’s need for another senior midfielder, with Fernandez emerging as Maresca’s preferred target.
Fernandez’s future at Chelsea has become increasingly uncertain in recent months. His position came under greater scrutiny after the club were eliminated from the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain in March, with tensions surrounding his situation subsequently growing.
The midfielder and his representative, former PSG player Javier Pastore, were also linked with interest from Real Madrid. The Spanish club later publicly rejected suggestions that it had been attempting to sign Fernandez.
Despite Maresca’s contentious departure from Chelsea on New Year’s Day before taking charge at Manchester City in June, his relationship with Fernandez has remained strong.
With the player open to the switch and personal terms not expected to present an obstacle, the outcome now depends largely on whether City are willing to meet Chelsea’s valuation before the transfer deadline.