Manchester City still believe they can sign Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez, despite the Premier League club’s self-imposed deadline for a £120m offer passing without a formal bid.
Chelsea had set 17:00 BST on Friday as the cut-off point for City to make a firm proposal for the Argentina international. The deadline was intended to give Chelsea enough time to identify and plan for a replacement should they decide to sell the 24-year-old.
However, Manchester City do not consider the expiry of that deadline to have ended their interest. The formal transfer window remains open until 1 September, and there is still a belief within the club that Fernandez would be willing to move to the Etihad.
City have continued to communicate with representatives regarding a possible transfer. At the end of Friday, the Premier League champions still viewed a deal for Fernandez as achievable.
Chelsea, though, regard the situation differently. Their position is that the matter has been settled following the passing of their deadline. If the club were to reconsider a sale, they would want at least a higher fee than the £120m figure previously requested.
Fernandez remains under contract at Chelsea until 2032. Despite the length of his deal, there is still a belief that the midfielder would like to leave Stamford Bridge.
Should Fernandez depart Chelsea, Manchester City are considered the most likely destination for him. The club’s continued interest has kept open the possibility of a late move, even though no agreement has been reached.
Chelsea sources maintain that the situation is effectively resolved and that the club would be content for Fernandez to remain part of their squad. It is understood Chelsea have even discussed the possibility of offering him a new contract.
That stance contrasts with Manchester City’s view that the transfer remains possible while the window is open. For now, Fernandez is still a Chelsea player, but City’s persistence means the prospect of a move to the Etihad has not been completely ruled out.
The next stage will depend on whether Manchester City decide to make a proposal that matches or exceeds Chelsea’s revised expectations. Chelsea’s deadline has passed, but the two clubs remain apart in their assessment of whether Fernandez’s future has already been decided.