Enzo Fernandez celebrates
It's doomsday when it comes Enzo Fernandez's Chelsea future(Image: Roberto Schmidt/AFP)
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Chelsea are braced for Manchester City to make a move for Enzo Fernandez today with the clock ticking towards the Blues' unofficial deadline to buy the midfielder.
On Wednesday night, Stamford Bridge sources communicated that there is a Friday (today), 5pm deadline for potential suitors to pay £120million and sign Fernandez. Simply put: cough up £120m before 5pm, or the Argentina international will be playing for Xabi Alonso in the upcoming season.
There were rumours of Man City submitting a £102m offer on Thursday but sources close to the situation were quick to rubbish such suggestions. Chelsea insiders insist, at the time of writing, the club have received no bids all summer-long.
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Chelsea's terms are clear. Pay up their valuation or don't sign him. If the £120m is not paid before 5pm, the west Londoners will not entertain any transfer for Fernandez until next summer - with a January move also out of the question.
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The Blues are keen to ensure there are no off-field distractions for Alonso and his squad to contend with in the build-up to their Premier League opener away at Fulham on Monday, August 24. Chelsea were disrupted by all of the noise off the pitch last season regarding Enzo Maresca and Man City and Fernandez flirting publicly with a move away from Stamford Bridge.
Alonso wants to keep the 25-year-old in his squad for the upcoming season and the Spaniard has worked closely with the midfielder in recent days at the club's Cobham training base. With the clock ticking, Chelsea sources remain relaxed about the situation and insist the club are not actively trying to offload Fernandez.
He remains a valued member of the squad with just over two weeks of the summer transfer window remaining. Enzo Maresca wants Fernandez to be part of his squad, meanwhile, but the former Chelsea head coach needs the Man City hierarchy to act in the next few hours.
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