Enzo Fernandez: Man City open talks with Chelsea over £120m move

City are willing to spend BIG to land Enzo Fernandez

The 25-year-old has emerged as one of the biggest stories of transfer deadline day, with Chelsea understood to be demanding at least £120 million to consider letting him leave.

City are now negotiating with Chelsea over the fee, and that appears to be the only major obstacle standing in the way. Personal terms are reportedly not expected to cause any problems, meaning an agreement between the clubs could see the transfer move very quickly.

With the deadline approaching, there is little time for either side to waste. If City are prepared to meet Chelsea’s asking price, Fernandez could become one of the most expensive signings of the summer.

Why Enzo Fernandez is open to the move

Manchester City’s interest in Enzo Fernandez has now turned into formal negotiations, with the outcome likely to depend entirely on whether they can meet Chelsea’s valuation.

One factor working in City’s favour is Enzo Maresca, who already knows Fernandez from their time together at Stamford Bridge. Maresca is keen to reunite with the Argentina international at the Etihad, while Fernandez is reportedly open to making the move.

Maresca left Chelsea on New Year’s Day in a controversial departure before taking over at City in June, meaning this is the first transfer window in which he has had the opportunity to target players from his former club.

Although Chelsea were aware of City’s interest, the two clubs had not entered formal negotiations until now. Chelsea had also set an informal deadline earlier in the summer for any deal worth at least £120 million, but that date passed without an agreement being reached.

The situation has now changed, with City finally sitting down with Chelsea to discuss a potential transfer and time running out to get it over the line.

A record-breaking window at the Etihad

If Chelsea get their £120 million asking price, Fernandez would immediately rank among the most expensive players ever signed by a Premier League club. Only Liverpool’s £125 million deal for Alexander Isak last summer would sit above him.

For City, it would also mark their second new transfer record of the summer. They have already spent £116 million on Elliot Anderson after agreeing a deal with Nottingham Forest, meaning a move for Fernandez would push their spending even further.

There is certainly space for another midfielder in Pep Guardiola’s squad after a major reshuffle in that area this summer. Tijjani Reijnders has moved to Al-Qadsiah for £52 million, Rodri has joined Barcelona for £65 million, Nico Gonzalez is heading to Newcastle in a £52 million deal, while Bernardo Silva also departed earlier in the window before moving to Real Madrid.

City have already shown a willingness to spend heavily on young midfield talent, including their £86 million agreement for Lille’s Bouaddi, and Fernandez would represent another huge investment as they rebuild the middle of the pitch.