A detailed look at the Enzo Fernandez transfer saga with Chelsea only prepared to wait until Friday evening before declaring the midfielder not for sale this summer
Enzo Fernandez celebrates
Enzo Fernandez celebrates scoring for Chelsea against Tottenham(Image: Adrian Dennis/AFP)
View Image
In one of Xabi Alonso's very first answers as Chelsea manager, the Spaniard made his intentions clear. "Yes," replied Alonso when asked if he wanted to keep Enzo Fernandez at the club.
Alonso followed that up by saying he had spoken to Fernandez but the Blues boss did not want to get into what was said between the pair. While Alonso has more control than his predecessors when it comes to Chelsea's transfer business, he has had to sit back and watch this one unfold.
Before Alonso even officially started his role at Stamford Bridge, Fernandez told club chiefs of his desire to depart this summer. At the time, Real Madrid were strongly interested but have since pulled themselves out of what has turned into a saga.
FOLLOW OUR CHELSEA FB PAGE! Latest Blues news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page
In usual circumstances, Fernandez would be one of Chelsea’s ‘untouchables’, such is his value to the squad, but having made his intentions clear, the Blues chose not to stand in the way of the Argentine. On one condition, though: you pay £120million.
Steep? Many said just that at the time but the longer the transfer window has gone on, the more of a value-for-money prospective signing Fernandez seems.
Then the World Cup started and the Argentina international was shining in North America for the South Americans. Having scored the winner against Egypt in the last 16, the 25-year-old followed that up with a memorable equalising goal late on in their semi-final victory over England. His celebrations and antics on social media afterwards quickly made Fernandez public enemy number one in England.
While all of this was going on, Chelsea remain relaxed about Fernandez and his future. His agent was making public pleas to Real Madrid - that would come back to bite him and his client - while Alonso was working with the majority of his new players for the beginning of pre-season.
The Chelsea midfielder then had - one would presume - the lowest point of his career when he was shown a red card late on in normal time of Argentina’s World Cup final defeat to Spain in New Jersey. Fernandez has always had that nasty, passionate, reckless - whatever word you want to use - streak in him, meaning potential suitors were not given the ick.
Manchester City have been, for the most part, watching the Fernandez situation unfold from the bushes with a set of binoculars. Now, Enzo Maresca and City’s hierarchy are threatening to pounce.
They haven’t got long, though, with Chelsea setting a Friday, 5pm (UK time) deadline, and that is largely down to their own doing. Chelsea sources told football.london on Wednesday night that City have had circa 60 days - since the summer transfer window opened - to try and sign Fernandez, but thus far there have been no offers for the Argentine or even direct club-to-club negotiations.
Chelsea's first Premier League match - away at Fulham - is in just over 10 days' time and the club do not want a saga dragging on for the remainder of the month and cause an unnecessary distraction from the stuff that matters the most.
The Blues' stance has been: he's yours for £120m all window-long and any sale beyond this week will give the west Londoners less time to try and source a replacement. Chelsea believe he can thrive under new manager Alonso, who is prepared to welcome him back into the squad.
Chelsea and City have developed somewhat of a frosty relationship in recent times - originating from the Maresca saga last season where the Italian held talks with the Manchester-based club while still in the head coach role at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea have essentially said to their Premier League rivals: put your money where your mouth is. City are considering doing just that, with Maresca driving the move for Fernandez.
In the background, City are negotiating deals to sell Rodri and Tijani Reijnders. There is some suggestion that City could recoup much of Fernandez's £120m price tag by selling the midfield pair. Again, though, they haven't got long to cough it up.
We're set for a fascinating 24-or-so hours. Chelsea remain relaxed.