Manchester City are reportedly still pursuing Enzo Fernandez, even after letting a deadline set by Chelsea for a formal offer pass without making a move. According to Fabrizio Romano, the Argentine midfielder remains firmly on City’s radar as they look to fill the void left by Rodri’s departure to Barcelona ahead of the new Premier League season.
Chelsea had set Friday, August 14 as the cutoff for City to submit a concrete proposal for Fernandez, a deadline that came and went with no bid on the table. Despite that, talks between the two sides never fully cooled off behind the scenes.
“At Manchester City they’re still talking about Enzo Fernandez. Even today, from what I know, there were conversations at the club about his situation. On the player’s side, his agent, Javier Pastore, has kept up daily conversations lately, even after the deadline set by Chelsea,” Romano said. The insider added that it wouldn’t come as a surprise if Manchester City make another move and try to open negotiations for Fernandez.
Head coach Enzo Maresca, who managed the Argentine midfielder during his own time at Chelsea, confirmed in his latest press conference that City are still active in the market and have yet to land Rodri’s long-term successor, leaving the door open for a fresh approach even with the initial deadline already missed.
Enzo Maresca and Enzo Fernandez during their time together at Chelsea. (Getty Images)
Maresca’s cautious stance on Enzo Fernandez
Even with Romano’s report suggesting City are still working behind the scenes, Maresca has been careful not to fuel the speculation publicly. Asked about a possible reunion with his former Chelsea midfielder days before Romano’s update, the Italian coach kept his answer deliberately vague, sticking to the same line he’s used from the start of the transfer saga.
see also
Tijjani Reijnders’ reported Saudi Pro League move to provide huge financial boost for Man City in Enzo Fernandez pursuit
“At this moment, I have to give the same answer as day one: he’s a player from another club and I don’t think it’s right to talk about other players. At the same time, I don’t think it’s right for other clubs to do this with ours,” Maresca said, choosing to protect Chelsea’s position publicly even as his own club continues exploring a move behind closed doors.
City closing in on Ayyoub Bouaddi transfer agreement
City’s midfield rebuild extends beyond just the Enzo Fernandez situation. The club has reportedly reached personal terms with Lille’s 18-year-old Moroccan international Ayyoub Bouaddi on a contract running through June 2031, with the two clubs now finalizing the last details of a transfer fee in the region of €90-100 million.
City are pushing to bring Bouaddi to the Premier League immediately, though Lille have expressed a preference to keep him on loan for the 2026-27 season as part of any agreement, which is the last detail that needs to be settled for the midfielder to officially become a Manchester City player.
