Sources within Manchester City are playing down suggestions that the Premier League giants are aggressively pursuing Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez this summer. This comes amid constant speculation surrounding the 25-year-old Argentine and a reunion with incoming Etihad boss Enzo Maresca, who will replace Pep Guardiola following the Spaniard’s decade of dominance in Manchester.
Fernandez, who joined Stamford Bridge from Benfica for a fee of £106.8m in January 2023, has been one of the stand-out performers for the Blues this season. The vice-captain has chipped in with 15 goals and seven assists from midfield, slowly proving his worth for the eye-watering fee that first raised eyebrows throughout west London.
Maresca, who worked closely with the Argentine during his time at Chelsea, is said to see Fernandez as a tactical fit, but City’s recruitment department seem to be looking elsewhere. Man City and Enzo Maresca have agreed to look at Elliot Anderson as a top target. They’ve got a couple of other names on the list if this deal falls through.
Fernandez has been discussed internally, but nothing concrete has been done. It is understood that sporting director Hugo Viana views the Argentine as an alternative rather than a priority. The financial demands of taking him away from west London could also prove a Herculean obstacle, given Chelsea’s reluctance to entertain a book loss.
Elliot Anderson Remains Manchester City’s Top Midfield Target
Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson is still the player Viana is focusing on as Bernardo Silva’s long-term successor. The 23-year-old England international has since moved from Newcastle United and has emerged as one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.
City, however, have yet to agree a deal with Nottingham Forest for the asking price for Elliot Anderson, with the East Midlands club looking to secure a Premier League record sale for their prized asset. The two clubs are still some distance apart in negotiations, so there is room for late twists.
If that chase falls apart completely, Fernandez could provide City’s hierarchy with a more believable option. But for now, the noise swirling around seems to be more driven by the player’s own desire to link up with Maresca than any definitive pursuit from the Etihad recruitment team.