Esteemed Kompany
·12 August 2026
Manchester City have a deadline to meet if they want to sign Chelsea’s World Cup winner

In partnership with
Yahoo sportsEsteemed Kompany
·12 August 2026

Manchester City and Enzo Maresca have an interest in signing Chelsea’s combative and feisty midfielder Enzo Fernandez to the Etihad this summer. The Athletic reported that City have a strong interest in signing Enzo Fernandez earlier this week. There is a strong case both for and against Manchester City signing the Argentinian international. However, it has been reported that Chelsea have now set a deadline for any move for Enzo Fernandez to occur. There should now be an answer relatively quickly if City have any intention of signing Enzo Fernandez.
David Ornstein has reported for The Athletic that Chelsea have set a deadline of 5pm this Friday for Manchester City or any other club to submit an offer for Enzo Fernandez. Furthermore, Ornstein reports that Chelsea will not budget on their £120 million asking price to sell the World Cup winning midfielder. It is also reported that Chelsea have informed City, and Enzo Fernandez’s camp, of the deadline they have placed on any move for Enzo Fernandez.
Based on David Ornstein’s report, the future of Enzo Fernandez will be resolved very quickly. Chelsea want the situation resolved as soon as possible. They do not want to enter the 2026-27 season with uncertainty surrounding one of their key players. With Xabi Alonso now in charge of Chelsea he will want to know which players he can rely upon next season. Therefore, Chelsea’s stance on Enzo Fernandez is understandable given how important he is to them.
However, an answer on whether Manchester City intend to make a move to sign Enzo Fernandez should arrive very quickly. Enzo Maresca is a huge admirer of the Argentinian international. If City want to fulfil Maresca’s demand of signing Fernandez they will make their move by 5pm on Friday. It is now a waiting game to see if City make their move. Perhaps they won’t given the £120 million asking price placed on Enzo Fernandez. Perhaps that is a fee that is too high for City to consider. That remains to be seen.
Chelsea have set a deadline for when Manchester City must make their move for Enzo Fernandez, or the opportunity will be gone. City’s interest in signing Enzo Fernandez is there and now a definitive answer on whether or not City will go big again to strengthen their midfield will come sooner rather than later.







































