Real Madrid will wait until the end of the summer to make their move for Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez, according to reports in Spain.
Spanish TV programme El Chiringuito (via Goal) claim that the La Liga side are unwilling to match the Blues’ asking price, which currently stands at €150m (£131m).
With Fernandez willing to force through a switch to the Bernabeu, Real are confident that they can bring down the price before the end of August.
Of course, that would mean a very long transfer saga that could last close to five months.
Fernandez won’t face Man City this weekend
After making veiled hints that he is keen on moving to Madrid, head coach Liam Rosenior confirmed that the vice-captain would be dropped for two games.
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Fernandez was absent for the 7-0 win over Port Vale in the FA Cup on Saturday, but he will also not be in contention for a massive league match against Manchester City.
It’s a big call from Rosenior, but the Blues boss is trying to stamp his authority on the first-team squad.
Chelsea need CL qualification to quieten discontent
Former midfielder Emmanuel Petit has pointed out that the faltering Chelsea project is likely leading many of the club’s highest-profile players, not only Fernandez, to question their futures at Stamford Bridge.
With the Blues sitting in 6th place in the Premier League, they are currently outside the Champions League qualification places. If they don’t finish in the top 5, it could have serious ramifications.
Rosenior’s men are still only a point adrift of Liverpool in 5th, so all is not lost, but they will need to finish strongly. Along with City, they still have to play the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool in their final seven fixtures, so it is not the easiest run-in by any stretch of the imagination.
Read more about the Chelsea First Team Squad for 2025/26 here