Chelsea set Man City deadline to bid for Fernandez

Chelsea have told Manchester City they have a deadline of 5pm this Friday to make an offer for Enzo Fernandez. <p>City are interested in the midfielder, who shared a strong relationship with <strong>Enzo Maresca </strong>when he was Chelsea boss.</p><p>Chelsea value Fernandez at \u00a3120m and he has six years left on his contract.</p><p>If City do not meet Chelsea's demands, they do not intend to sell Fernandez in this window.</p><widget id="13"></widget><ul><li><a href="https://qrcode.skysports.com/TransfersSkySportsApp" target="_blank"><strong>Transfer Centre LIVE!</strong></a><strong> | </strong><a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/story-telling/11095/13108333/football-transfer-news-rumours-reports-and-gossip?inApp=true" target="_blank"><strong>Latest on YOUR PL club!</strong></a></li><li><a href="https://qrcode.skysports.com/PLscoresarticles" target="_blank"><strong>Premier League fixtures & scores</strong></a> | <a href="https://qrcode.skysports.com/skysports/FreePLHighlightsFirst" target="_blank"><strong>FREE PL highlights</strong></a>\u25b6\ufe0f</li><li><strong>Got Sky? </strong><a href="https://qrcode.skysports.com/skysports/WatchPremarticles" target="_blank"><strong>Watch Premier League games LIVE on your phone</strong></a>\ud83d\udcf1</li><li><strong>Not got Sky? </strong><a href="https://www.sky.com/tv/sports?dcmp=Ilc_skysports_nc_articlelink" target="_blank"><strong>Latest Sky Sports deals</strong></a><strong> or </strong><a href="https://www.nowtv.com/membership/watch-sky-sports/football/premier-league?DCMP=ilc_skysports_nc_articlelink" target="_blank"><strong>stream PL games with no contract</strong></a>\ud83d\udcfa</li></ul><p><strong>Barcelona's </strong>pursuit of <strong>Rodri </strong>- <a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/13570585/rodri-transfer-news-man-city-reject-initial-barcelona-off-for-spain-midfielder-with-bid-considered-far-too-low">which saw them have a \u00a340m bid rejected</a> -<strong> </strong>has raised the prospect of Manchester City making a late move for Fernandez before the window closes.</p> <widget id="2"></widget><p>City have targets in mind for any player who departs and they are in ongoing talks with <strong>Lille </strong>for <strong>Morocco </strong>midfielder <strong>Ayyoub Bouaddi</strong>. They have already signed central-midfielder <a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/13558090/elliot-anderson-to-man-city-midfielder-completes-record-breaking-lb116m-transfer-from-nottingham-forest">Elliot Anderson for \u00a3116m from Nottingham Forest</a>.</p><p>Chelsea have a high valuation for Fernandez but they signed him for around \u00a3107m from Benfica in the 2023 winter window. The summer transfer window closes on<strong> Tuesday September 1.</strong></p><p>Relations between City and Chelsea are strained after the acrimonious manner of Maresca's departure from Chelsea.</p> <widget id="7"></widget><p>City paid Chelsea \u00a317m in compensation to appoint Maresca this summer. He had resigned with three and a half years to run on his contract at the end of 2025 after being sounded out about succeeding Pep Guardiola last autumn.</p> <widget id="9"></widget><p>Chelsea chose to impose this deadline to avoid the distractions that arose when Maresca stood down with his shock exit announced by the club on New Year's Day.</p><p>Their view is that interested clubs have had the best part of two months to make an approach for Fernandez. They want new manager <strong>Xabi Alonso </strong>and his players to be able to focus on the new season ahead.</p><p>Fernandez was dropped by Chelsea for two games in April after he admitted he would welcome living in Madrid.</p> <widget id="10"></widget><p>The player and his agent also apologised for his comments. They had been seeking improved terms at Chelsea.</p><p>Real Madrid released a statement earlier this summer denying that they would make an attempt to sign Fernandez.</p> <widget id="5"></widget><h3>Barcelona expected to raise bid for Rodri</h3><p>Barcelona are ready to raise their offer for Rodri - which could lead to Man City making their move for Fernandez before Chelsea's deadline.</p><p>City want to keep the 30-year-old but he has entered the final year of his contract.</p><p>Barcelona are ready to up their offer to City for Rodri to somewhere in the \u00a350m (\u20ac60m) to \u00a360m (\u20ac70m) bracket.</p><p>City are also aware of interest from <strong>Nottingham Forest </strong>in <strong>Tijjani Reijnders</strong>.</p> <widget id="8"></widget>