Manchester City are reportedly refusing to abandon their pursuit of Enzo Fernandez despite missing Chelsea’s deadline to complete a deal for the Argentina international.
Chelsea had informed City that they needed to meet their £120 million valuation by 5pm on Friday if they wanted to sign Fernandez, but no formal offer arrived before the deadline.
That initially appeared to have ended the transfer saga, with Chelsea subsequently expecting their captain to remain at Stamford Bridge for the 2026/27 season.
However, Spanish outlet AS reports that City still have Fernandez on their shortlist and intend to resume efforts to find an agreement during the closing weeks of the transfer window.
New manager Enzo Maresca is said to be particularly keen on reuniting with the midfielder after working closely with him during his time in charge of Chelsea.
Fernandez developed into an increasingly influential attacking midfielder under Maresca, and their previous relationship has made the 25-year-old an attractive option for City’s midfield rebuild.
The situation has become more significant following Rodri’s expected departure, with City requiring another high-level midfielder capable of assuming greater responsibility in possession.
City had already identified Fernandez as a potential replacement while Barcelona were negotiating for Rodri, although Chelsea’s £120m valuation has consistently represented the biggest obstacle.
AS claims City previously communicated an informal proposal worth around €120m (£103m), but that figure was insufficient to convince Chelsea to sanction a transfer.
The London club’s position nevertheless leaves considerable uncertainty over whether negotiations can genuinely be revived, particularly after setting a deadline specifically intended to provide clarity before the Premier League season.
City’s need for reinforcements was also highlighted by Sunday’s Community Shield, when Maresca’s first competitive match ended in a comprehensive 3-0 defeat against Arsenal.
After the game, the Italian suggested there could still be significant activity before the window closes, saying City would be “busy” over the coming days.
City have already broken their transfer record to sign England midfielder Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest this summer, but their midfield overhaul may not be complete.
Chelsea, meanwhile, are under no financial pressure to accept a reduced proposal and could demand even more than the previously stated £120m figure if City return after ignoring their deadline.
That leaves a substantial gap to overcome, but City’s interest has not disappeared.
With Maresca pushing for a reunion and the transfer window still open, Fernandez’s future could yet become one of the major stories of its final fortnight.