Chelsea will not necessarily accept a £120m offer from Manchester City for Enzo Fernandez, as the Cityzens weigh up a bid for the midfielder.
Chelsea advised Manchester City and other interested clubs that a £120m proposal would be enough to sign Fernandez last week, though set a deadline of Friday 14th August at 5pm to make their move.
City failed to meet that asking price in time, but Rodri’s imminent exit for Barcelona could prompt a fresh approach. Enzo Maresca’s side have accepted a £65.3m offer from Barcelona for Rodri, who is due to travel to Spain this evening to complete the move.
Former Chelsea coach Maresca wants to reunite with Fernandez at the Etihad, but the Blues have altered their stance on the Argentine.
According to Sky Sports, Fernandez can no longer automatically leave Chelsea for the £120m terms agreed between his representatives and the club in May.
Chelsea wanted to ensure any sale of the 25-year-old was sanctioned with enough time to source a suitable replacement, and could now reject offers in that region. The transfer window closes for Premier League clubs on Tuesday 1 September 2026 at 11pm BST.
Alongside their pursuit of Fernandez, City are also chasing a deal for Lille teenager Ayyoub Bouaddi. The Moroccan midfielder, who shone at the 2026 World Cup, is expected to cost around €100m.
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