The Chelsea coach confirmed that he has the Argentine midfielder for the next match and highlighted his professionalism, although he avoided guaranteeing his continuity against the citizens' offensive
Chelsea, for its part, has reportedly raised its demands and is no longer willing to negotiate for less than 140 million pounds, a figure close to 160 million euros. If the deal is finalized for that amount, Fernández would become the third most expensive footballer in history, only behind Kylian Mbappé, transferred from Monaco to PSG for 180 million euros, and Neymar, whose transfer from Barcelona to the Parisian club was completed for 222 million.
With less than a week until the transfer market closes in England, the future of Enzo Fernández remains one of the main focal points in the Premier League. The Manchester City is preparing an offer to acquire the Argentine midfielder, while Chelsea is trying to retain one of its key players.
In this context, Xabi Alonso once again addressed the situation. In the press conference prior to the match against Luton Town, the Spanish coach was first asked about Fernández's presence in Thursday's game and assured that he is fit to play. "We expect him to participate. He is ready. He is training very well. He is a good professional and will be involved", he stated.
The next question was directly related to the continuity of the Argentine national team midfielder. There, Alonso avoided giving a definitive answer, although he made it clear that he wants to keep him: "We want to have the best possible team and we know Enzo's qualities. He has proven it, and we will have to wait. But right now we are thinking about tomorrow and we will see how things develop".
While the coach focuses on the upcoming commitment, the citizen team remains firm in its intention to pursue the Argentine. According to Sky Sports, the team led by Enzo Maresca is preparing a proposal that could be presented before the transfer market closes, scheduled for Tuesday, September 1 at 23:00 in England, 18:00 in Argentina.
The interest from Manchester City also has a known component: Maresca previously worked with Fernández during his time at Chelsea and was part of the coaching staff that celebrated the Argentine's victory in the 2025 Club World Cup. Now, from the Sky Blue bench, he seeks to strengthen a midfield that has suffered the departures of Rodri and Tijjani Reijnders.
With the market entering its decisive phase, Enzo continues to train with Chelsea and is part of Alonso's immediate plans, although the coming hours could be crucial in determining whether he will stay in London or be involved in one of the most significant moves in the Premier League.
Since his arrival at the London club in early 2023, the native of San Martín has played 13,400 minutes, distributed over 170 matches, in which he scored 31 goals, provided 30 assists, and received 37 yellow cards. In terms of titles, he has won 2: the 2024/25 Conference League and the 2025 Club World Cup.
