Manchester City have made their move for Enzo Fernández, launching a massive £102.5 million opening offer just days before Chelsea’s self-imposed deadline expires.
All-or-Nothing for City: Huge Fernández Bid Submitted with Chelsea Deadline Just Days Away
The Premier League champions have finally entered the race for the Argentine midfielder, but their proposal still falls roughly £17.5 million short of Chelsea’s £120 million valuation.
🚨[EXCLUSIVO] El Manchester City ofrece €120M al Chelsea por Enzo Fernández. Enzo Maresca lo quiere sí o sí.
🤝 @tribuna_ftbl ⬇️https://t.co/TX91kgRh37 pic.twitter.com/ZhSpFm1cIc— César Luis Merlo (@CLMerlo) August 13, 2026
The Blues have made their position abundantly clear: any club wanting to sign Fernández must complete a deal by 5pm on Friday, or Chelsea will shut down negotiations entirely.
Chelsea’s hardline stance aims to prevent the kind of late-window disruption that has haunted them previously. With Fernández contracted to Stamford Bridge until 2032, the west London club hold all the cards in these discussions.
The timing of City’s interest comes amid growing uncertainty over Rodri’s future. Barcelona have already seen two bids rejected for the Spanish international, with their latest offer still failing to meet City’s asking price.
Reports suggest Rodri favours the move, forcing Maresca’s side to explore alternative midfield options.
Fernández offers a distinctly different profile to City’s current midfielders. The 25-year-old delivered his most productive Premier League campaign last season, recording 10 goals and four assists across 36 appearances.
His ability to dictate possession, break defensive lines with incisive passing, and make late runs into the penalty area makes him an attractive proposition.
Former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca knows these qualities intimately. The City manager previously worked with Fernández at Chelsea, granting him greater freedom to influence matches in advanced areas.
This existing relationship reportedly makes the Argentine an appealing target for the defending champions.
Argentine journalist Cesar Luis Merlo broke the news of City’s substantial opening bid, though neither club has officially confirmed the offer.
Chelsea will now scrutinise the proposal’s structure, examining guaranteed payments, payment schedules, and achievable bonuses before considering their response.
The coming hours will prove decisive. City must significantly improve their offer or risk missing out on one of Europe’s most coveted midfielders.
