Manchester City prepare £120m bid for Chelsea midfielder Fernandez

Manchester City are preparing an opening offer for Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez, with the London club previously setting a minimum price of £120m. City are expected to make another attempt to sign the Argentina international before next week’s transfer deadline.

Fernandez has been identified as a priority for City manager Enzo Maresca, who wants to strengthen a midfield depleted by several major departures. Maresca left Chelsea on New Year’s Day and took charge at the Etihad Stadium in June, while he has retained a positive relationship with Fernandez.

City have already paid £116m for Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest this summer. A successful move for Fernandez would therefore potentially give them a second new transfer record in the same window and would make the midfielder one of the Premier League’s most expensive signings.

Only Liverpool’s £125m acquisition of Alexander Isak last summer would stand above a £120m Fernandez deal on the figures available. Chelsea signed Fernandez from Benfica for £107m in 2023, and their highest outgoing transfer remains Eden Hazard’s 2019 move to Real Madrid, which began at £89m and could reach £150m with add-ons.

City’s interest comes during an unsettled period for Fernandez at Stamford Bridge. He and his agent, former Paris St-Germain midfielder Javier Pastore, attracted interest from Real Madrid, although the Spanish club later denied trying to sign him. The situation developed after Chelsea’s Champions League elimination by PSG in March, following which Fernandez became increasingly critical of the club.

Fernandez was introduced from the bench in Monday’s 3-2 victory over Fulham and was booed by home supporters over his part in England’s World Cup exit. He celebrated briefly with the visiting fans and teammates after the final whistle before going down the tunnel ahead of the other Chelsea players. New Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso said in July that he had held a private conversation with Fernandez but did not reveal its contents.