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Chelsea has set a Friday deadline for clubs interested in midfielder Enzo Fernandez to submit bids of at least £120 million, according to the BBC. The 25-year-old Argentine international's future at Stamford Bridge has been uncertain since March, when he first hinted at a potential move to Real Madrid.
Around the same time, his agent, Javier Pastore, publicly stated that his client was underpaid and wished to leave after a challenging season. Chelsea finished tenth in the Premier League and ended the season trophyless, having lost the FA Cup final to Manchester City.
Real Madrid subsequently announced they had "no intention" of signing Fernandez. This leaves Manchester City as the only known potential suitor for his signature, especially since their new manager, Enzo Maresca, departed Chelsea midway through last season.
It remains unclear whether City is prepared to meet the asking price for the player. The Etihad club is also reportedly interested in Lille's Moroccan midfielder, Ayyoub Bouaddi.
Chelsea has set 5 PM BST on Friday as the deadline for receiving offers and is expected to hold firm on their £120 million valuation, despite having signed Fernandez from Benfica for £107 million in 2023. The deadline aims to resolve the uncertainty before the start of the season. Chelsea has given Fernandez and interested clubs approximately 60 days to finalize a deal at a price the London club deems fair.
New manager Xabi Alonso has discussed Fernandez's future with him but declined to disclose details of their conversation. Chelsea is believed to have clearly indicated their willingness to reintegrate Fernandez into the squad and allow him to continue as a key player for the team.
Last season, he scored 15 goals and provided seven assists in 54 appearances for the club. He then helped Argentina reach the World Cup final, and later received a red card in their 1-0 loss to Spain.
Fernandez returned to Chelsea training this week for the first time under Alonso's management.
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