Photo by Chelsea Football Club/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Photo by Chelsea Football Club/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Just as many Chelsea fans expected, it seems as if the Enzo Fernandez saga still has legs left in it.
Enzo Fernandez has hit the absolute deadline, with a 5pm cutoff now over for Manchester City to meet the £120 million demands for the midfielder.
While Enzo himself hasn’t actively tried to force an exit, his agent, Javier Pastore, has been working behind the scenes for weeks, aggressively pushing the agenda to orchestrate a move to the Etihad.
It leaves Chelsea in an advantageous position moving forward, with the ball firmly in their court to discuss a transfer fee that could even end up being above the £120 million due to the missed deadline.
Adding even more fuel to the fire, City boss Enzo Maresca is desperate to be reunited with the Argentine, leaving this whole transfer drama balancing on a razor’s edge still.
Enzo Fernandez and Enzo Maresca hugging graphic
Photo by Neal Simpson/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
Enzo Fernandez can still leave Chelsea this summer
According to Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea consider Enzo Fernandez no longer available at £120m as terms were made clear to his camp since May, effectively agreed as a ‘release clause’.
Chelsea are happy to keep Enzo and continue with him.
Manchester City mantained daily active talks with Enzo’s camp, and in the last 48 hours too. It’s now up to Man City if they want to try again on different conditions.
🚨 Chelsea consider Enzo Fernández no longer available at £120m as terms were made clear to his camp since May — effectively agreed as a ‘release clause’.#CFC happy to keep Enzo and continue with him.
❗️ Manchester City mantained daily active talks with Enzo’s camp, in last 48… pic.twitter.com/tNSHCrMcYo
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 14, 2026
Meanwhile, there is slightly contrasting reports from Kieran Gill, who claims that Chelsea sources add they now expect Enzo Fernandez to stay for the entirety of 2026-27.
And then Simon Phillips is at the opposite end of the spectrum, suggesting that a potential deal for Enzo Fernandez to join Manchester City is close, despite what is being reported.