Manchester City have offered €120m for Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez, according to journalist Cesar Luis Merlo, as the Argentina international emerges as a possible target for the Premier League champions.
Fernandez could leave Chelsea for Manchester City and reunite with Enzo Maresca. The reported proposal is the first major development in a transfer situation that has seen Chelsea set a significantly higher valuation for the 25-year-old.
Reports earlier suggested that Chelsea had presented Manchester City with an ultimatum over Fernandez. The London club are said to want City to submit an offer of about €140m by Friday evening if a deal is to be completed. If that demand is not met, Chelsea would reportedly refuse to proceed with the transfer.
City’s €120m proposal therefore falls short of the figure said to be required by Chelsea. The difference between the two valuations could determine whether negotiations continue and whether Fernandez remains at Stamford Bridge or moves to Manchester.
Manchester City may be able to offset part of the cost of signing Fernandez through the sale of Rodri. The potential departure of the midfielder could provide City with funds to help finance their offer for Chelsea’s Argentina international.
Chelsea paid €121m to sign Fernandez in January 2023. A transfer for €140m would represent a significant increase on the fee paid for the midfielder, while the €120m proposal reported by Merlo would come close to matching Chelsea’s original outlay.
The figures involved underline the scale of the possible move. Chelsea are reportedly seeking around €140m, while Manchester City have so far offered €120m. No agreement has been reported, and the outcome may depend on whether City are prepared to improve their bid before the Friday evening deadline mentioned in earlier reports.
Fernandez’s possible move would also bring him together with Maresca at Manchester City. The midfielder is currently a Chelsea player, but City’s interest and the reported offer have placed his future at the centre of the latest transfer discussions.
For now, the reported proposal remains below Chelsea’s stated or expected demand. Manchester City’s next step, and whether the club can raise its offer towards €140m, will determine whether the negotiations develop into a completed transfer.