Hugo Viana holds informal Manchester City transfer talks with Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez | OneFootball

Manchester City have held preliminary discussions with Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez to add the Argentine to their ranks this summer, as per reports.

The update follows a report from journalist Uriel Iugt earlier this week that City are going all out to sign the Chelsea midfielder, with informal conversations already having taken place with those close to the 25-year-old.

Fernandez joined Chelsea from Benfica in January 2023 for a British record fee of £106.8 million and has since established himself as one of the most technically accomplished midfielders in the Premier League, combining defensive authority with creativity and a winning mentality shaped by Argentina’s FIFA World Cup triumph in Qatar two years prior.

Report: Informal talks held between Fernandez and City

According to journalist Ben Jacobs, some informal and formative talks have taken place between Enzo Fernandez and Manchester City, a development that represents a meaningful step forward in a pursuit that has been building in recent days.

The upcoming appointment of Enzo Maresca as Pep Guardiola‘s successor at the Etihad Stadium is understood to be a key factor in City’s confidence that a deal is achievable, with the incoming manager having worked closely with Fernandez during his time as Chelsea head coach.

Maresca’s personal relationship with the midfielder gives City a significant advantage over any rival clubs who may attempt to enter the race.

What is the wider context for City’s pursuit?

City’s midfield faces considerable reconstruction this summer following the departures of Bernardo Silva and John Stones, with Rodri‘s contract situation also yet to be fully resolved.

Director of football Hugo Viana has identified midfield reinforcements as the most urgent priority of the window – and a player of Fernandez’s calibre and profile would represent a statement of intent from Maresca’s City from the very first day of his tenure.

The financial complexity of a deal with Chelsea, who paid a British record fee for Fernandez just two-and-a-half years ago and are already seeking compensation from City for Maresca’s departure – makes this one of the more delicate negotiations of the summer. However, with informal talks between player and club already underway, the direction of travel is clear.