Manchester City Prepare Opening Bid For Enzo Fernandez
Manchester City are preparing an opening bid for Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez ahead of next week's transfer deadline, according to BBC Sport. No offer has been submitted yet, with City still in the process of formalising their approach.
Chelsea value the 25-year-old Argentina international at a minimum of £120m, a fee that would make him the second-most expensive signing in Premier League history behind Alexander Isak's £125m move to Liverpool, per the same report.
New City boss Enzo Maresca sees Fernandez as central to rebuilding a midfield stripped by a string of departures this summer, including Tijjani Reijnders, Rodri, Nico Gonzalez and Bernardo Silva. Maresca managed Fernandez at Chelsea before his own exit and is said to retain a strong relationship with the midfielder.
Fernandez's stock at Stamford Bridge has cooled since Chelsea's Champions League exit to PSG in March, after which he explored a possible move to Real Madrid, an approach the Spanish club publicly played down. New Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso held private talks with the player in July, though the substance of those discussions has not been disclosed.
A move for Fernandez would mark City's second broken transfer record this summer, following the £116m signing of Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest.
