Man City to launch formal bid for Enzo Fernández as deadline nears, testing Chelsea’s £120m resolve

Manchester City are set to send a formal bid to Chelsea for Enzo Fernández before next week’s transfer deadline.

Fernandez is Manchester City’s leading transfer target before the closure of the window, with the club preparing to test Chelsea’s resolve with a bid.

Chelsea had agreed with Fernandez that the midfielder could leave if his £120m asking price was met butset a deadline of August 14th for a deal.

City failed to meet that figure before the deadline, but believe a deal can be done in the final days of the window.

Enzo Fernández keen on Etihad move: Man City prepare imminent offer after missing Chelsea’s deadline

Fabrizio Romano is reporting that City will submit an offer for the Argentina international imminently. Fernandez is keen on the move to the Etihad, where he would reunite with former Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca.

Maresca wants to add Fernandez to a midfield group that has been depleted by the departures of Bernardo Silva, Rodri, and Tijjani Reijnders, while Nico Gonzalez is nearing a move to Newcastle United.

Fernandez was named among the substitutes for Chelsea’s 3-2 win at Fulham on Monday and appeared as a second-half substitute at Craven Cottage.

Chelsea are insistent that the club will only consider his sale now if they receive a huge offer and can improve their squad.

A £120m fee would represent a club-record deal for Manchester City, eclipsing the £116m fee paid to sign Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest earlier this summer. The Cityzens are also finalising the £85.4m arrival of Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille.