IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Brett Davis
Chelsea and Manchester City are in advanced talks over a deadline day deal for midfielder Enzo Fernandez, according to GIVEMESPORT senior correspondent Ben Jacobs.
Chelsea previously set a deadline for big-money offers for the Argentina international, but despite that expiring, the 25-year-old could be set to leave Stamford Bridge before tonight's 11pm deadline.
Negotiations between the two Premier League rivals are progressing for a deal that could be worth more than £120m.
Speaking to GMS on deadline day afternoon, Jacobs said:
Jacobs continued: "Chelsea are still seeking a replacement and have looked at several options, including Manu Kone and Lamine Camara, and cast their net within the Premier League as well.
"Enzo Fernandez is waiting for a green light. Chelsea's position at the beginning of the day was they had to find a replacement and then Enzo Fernandez would get his move to Manchester City.
"It will be interesting to see if Chelsea get a midfielder over the line and if they don't whether they are still prepared to take a significant fee from Manchester City, believed to be higher than the £120million Chelsea had asked for earlier in the window."
Chelsea Can't Green Light Fernandez Exit Yet
REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli
While Chelsea could be on the verge of getting huge money for Enzo Fernandez, they must secure a top-class replacement for the Argentine first.
Camara and Kone would be two eye-catching additions for the Blues, but getting those key players out of their clubs at this stage of the window is far from guaranteed.
The west Londoners currently have Romeo Lavia, Moises Caicedo, Valentin Barco and Jordan Henderson as their main senior options for the position, and they surely need at least one more face in there before they can consider letting Fernandez leave.
The Argentine only played 25 minutes of the opening day Premier League win against Fulham, and was left out of the squad altogether against Brighton at the weekend, but Chelsea haven't missed him after taking six points from a possible six.