“Crucial hours ahead” as City in contact over signing £120m Chelsea star before 5pm deadline

Manchester City have maintained contacts over a potential transfer move for Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Blues have set a deadline of 5pm today to resolve Fernandez’s future, with Man City seemingly keen even if the Argentina international’s asking price remains £120m.

“Crucial hours ahead for Enzo Fernández future as Chelsea insist they will not sell him after 5pm UK time today,” Romano posted on X.

Man City have been in regular contact with Enzo’s camp for days and in last 24h too.

Chelsea also insist on £120m price.

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— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 14, 2026

??? Crucial hours ahead for Enzo Fernández future as Chelsea insist they will not sell him after 5pm UK time today.

Man City have been in regular contact with Enzo’s camp for days and in last 24h too.

Chelsea also insist on £120m price.

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 14, 2026

He added: “Man City have been in regular contact with Enzo’s camp for days and in last 24h too. Chelsea also insist on £120m price.”

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It sounds like this story isn’t over yet, but City are running out of time if they want to get a deal done, and it doesn’t sound like Chelsea are about to back down, so it’s hard to predict which way this will go.

Is Enzo Fernandez really worth £120m?

We know this is a bit of a crazy market this summer, so even if Fernandez hasn’t exactly been super consistent at Chelsea, it perhaps makes sense that they’re ready to demand as much as £120m for him.

City can have no complaints really, after forking out as much as £116m on Elliot Anderson (fee via BBC Sport), with Fernandez a similar style of player who has the added benefit of more experience and more major trophies to his name.

CFC also spent big to sign Fernandez in the first place, and his contract running until 2032 really puts them in the driving seat in terms of what they can ask for for the 25-year-old.

At the same time, however, City shouldn’t necessarily be bullied into such an expensive signing when it’s debatable if Fernandez would really improve them that much.

Of course, Enzo Maresca could do with a proven Premier League player to replace Rodri, but Anderson has already joined and there might be better options out there who wouldn’t cost quite as much as Fernandez.