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Chelsea say no Fernandez move as deadline passes – but is it really over?Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Enzo Fernandez has had a tumultuous time at ChelseaByEmlyn Begley, BBC Sport journalist, Nizaar KinsellaFootball reporter and Simon StoneChief football news reporter
Chelsea‘s deadline for clubs to bid £120m for midfielder Enzo Fernandez has passed – and they now expect the Argentine to stay at the club this season.
Manchester City have been interested in the Argentina international, who previously played under new City boss boss Enzo Maresca at Chelsea.
The Blues told interested parties they had until 17:00 BST on Friday to make an offer for the 25-year-old.
But they are not thought to have received any bids and Xabi Alonso’s side now hope to keep their vice-captain.
However, it is understood City do not see the potential transfer as being over and still think Chelsea want to do a deal.
A £120m move would be the fourth-biggest football transfer ever.
City have already made a big-money midfield signing this summer in Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson for £116m.
A potential deal for Fernandez was thought to rely on City selling Spain midfielder Rodri, officially the best player at the 2026 World Cup among numerous other accolades, to Barcelona.
The deadline was an unofficial one Chelsea had set City – or any other team – to make an offer for Fernandez.
The actual transfer deadline is on Tuesday, 1 September at 23:00 BST.
But Chelsea insiders insisted the chance would be gone come 17:00 on 14 August and that Fernandez would stay if an offer was not made.
It was seen as a win-win for Chelsea, who would either keep their player or bank £120m.
But City think Chelsea are the ones who need to do a deal, and if it happens, it will be at a timing of their choosing, not the Blues.
Whether Chelsea would actually turn down one of the biggest offers in history – if it comes a few days later – remains to be seen.
But clubs do often stick to their deadlines – as Manchester United learned in 2020.
They felt Borussia Dortmund were all talk when they set a deadline of 10 August to sign Jadon Sancho.
But when the Red Devils increased their bid after that date, Dortmund rejected it – and they had to wait another year to sign him.
The answer to the question is yes. City are not planning to sign Fernandez if Spanish World Cup-winner Rodri stays.
Defensive midfielder Rodri has been a crucial part of City’s success in recent years, helping them win the 2022-23 Treble – including scoring the winner in the Champions League final against Inter Milan.
The 30-year-old has played 298 times, lifting a total of four league titles, plus several cups – and winning the Ballon d’Or.
Rodri wants to return to his native Spain and join Barcelona – with Real Madrid having dropped out of the chase – and City are asking for 80m euros (£68.4m).
Barca’s opening bid for a player out of contract next summer was only £38.5m but the situation remains fluid.
City are adamant their valuation has to be met and have indicated they are prepared to keep Rodri and risk losing him for nothing when his contract expires in 2027 if they do not get the right fee.
The Rodri and Fernandez deals happening are dependent on each other – but do not need to go through at the same time.
If City knew Rodri was going it would enable them to make a bid for Fernandez.
And it is possible he could even sign before Rodri is ready to play again after a minor back procedure.
Maresca is clearly a huge fan of Fernandez, having made him Chelsea captain when Reece James was injured, and he played the Argentine in 79 of his 92 games in charge at Stamford Bridge.
Fernandez is by nature a defensive midfielder, but Maresca played him further forward many times last season when Cole Palmer was injured, leading to him scoring a career-best 15 goals.
That means there are several places Fernandez could fit into Maresca’s City team – if a deal does happen.
The Abu Dhabi-owned club also signed England midfielder Anderson from Forest this summer.
Anderson, like Fernandez, has played in various midfield positions – defensive and further forward.
So that would give Maresca some flexibility when naming a team – and means Anderson and Fernandez would be perfectly capable of playing together.
Fernandez’s relationship with Chelsea worsened after the exit of Maresca in January.
In March he criticised the club after a heavy defeat by Paris St-Germain in the Champions League – and then stated his dream was to move to Madrid.
Those Madrid comments led to Chelsea dropping him for two games.
Last month Real Madrid released a statement saying they would not be signing Fernandez – which left City as the only real contenders.
City are interested in other players too for that role, if the Fernandez deal does not pan out.
They include Lille’s 18-year-old Ayyoub Bouaddi, a breakout star of the World Cup for Morocco.
City have also explored a potential move for Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott, a target for Chelsea as well this summer, and Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister.
‘What a strike!’ – Fernandez equalises for Argentina
If Fernandez did join City for £120m it would make it the fourth-biggest transfer in football history.
And it would also mean City had made two of the biggest six signings ever this summer.
Only Alexander Isak from Newcastle to Liverpool last summer for £125m, plus Paris St-Germain’s deals for Neymar and Kylian Mbappe in 2017, cost more.
Anderson currently ranks fifth on the list – and Fernandez himself squeezes into the top 10 for his £107m move to Chelsea from Benfica in February 2023.
A deal would take City’s spending this summer past £250m following the recruitment of youngsters Pierce Charles, Jeremy Monga and Mathys Detourbet, and back-up keeper Geronimo Rulli.
And for 2026 it would be approaching £350m after they spent £82.5m on Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi in January.
But players on big contracts have left on free transfers this summer including Bernardo Silva and John Stones – plus the sale of James Trafford to Leeds for up to £45m.
City midfielder Tijjani Reijnders is set to join Saudi Pro-League outfit Al-Qadsiah in a £52m deal.
More to follow.
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