Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images
Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images
Enzo Fernandez’s move to Manchester City remains a possibility on deadline day as Chelsea look to find a replacement before pressing the green light – but Gary Neville is not so sure.
Fernandez continues to be touted with a move to Man City. At this stage, it is believed that everything is in place for the World Cup winner to move to Enzo Maresca’s side. All that is missing is a replacement.
Chelsea were believed to be close to a deal for Monaco’s Lamine Camara, even though Filipe Luis made it publicly clear that he hoped Camara would remain. The Senegal star sparkled for Monaco on Sunday.
However, talks have cooled, and Chelsea are now focusing on Roma’s Manu Kone before the deadline. Whether Chelsea can get a deal done before the deadline and Fernandez departs remains to be seen.
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Everything Gary Neville said about Enzo Fernandez’s future
Despite all the noise and all the reports involving Fernandez, Gary Neville does not believe a move to Man City will materialise. He believes that if a move was going to happen, it would have already happened.
Speaking on the Gary Neville podcast after Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Aston Villa, Neville believes Xabi Alonso has told Fernandez he won’t be involved so he can “keep his head down”, instead of actually going.
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“For Enzo Fernandez, that one would have happened, wouldn’t it? That can’t happen tomorrow, can it? He wasn’t in the squad on Sunday. I wonder if the manager has just said ‘look, you’re not moving’,” he said.
“‘I know you’re disappointed, I know you’re annoyed, I know you feel frustrated that we’ve not let you go for less money or whatever the reason is, have three or four days off, come and see us on Wednesday'”.
“‘You’re not going anywhere’ – that is a tactic that managers use sometimes. Or have they said we’ll try and make this transfer happen? I suspect it’s the former. There’s no noise, there’s nothing happening.
“I think it’s a case of Chelsea saying, just get your head down and have a couple of days off, keep away from Stamford Bridge for a period where fans know you want to leave, but you’re not,” he continued.
“I played at Man United for 20 years, and there were a couple of players that signalled they wanted to leave, but when they stayed, everything was fine. The lads in the dressing room will be fine with him.
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“They understand a career is short; you have to do the best you can. Nothing personal against Chelsea; it’s a huge opportunity to play for City. I think he remains at Chelsea. Gut instinct, no inside information.”
Manu Kone looks like the frontrunner, but who else could join?
Roma are likely to be open to the sale of Kone, with the Serie A side in need of a sale. Interest in Jamie Gittens from the Serie A side could actually help Chelsea get a deal done for Kone before the deadline.
Enzo Fernandez and Enzo Maresca hugging graphic
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Interest in Camara may remain despite talks cooling, and it could simply require Chelsea to increase their offer. Morgan Gibbs-White is a player Chelsea admire, according to BBC Sport reporter Sami Mokbel.
Players like Alex Scott, Adam Wharton and Eduardo Camavinga remain unlikely going into the final day. One thing is for sure: if Chelsea sell Fernandez and don’t sign a midfielder, there will be an uproar.