Man City Eye Enzo Fernandez Despite Signing Ayyoub Bouaddi for £86m

Man City’s Midfield Plans After Signing Ayyoub Bouaddi

Manchester City remain interested in Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez even after securing an £86 million deal for Lille's rising star, Ayyoub Bouaddi. With Rodri's move to Barcelona leaving a gap, manager Enzo Maresca is looking to strengthen the midfield further.

Midfield Overhaul in Progress

Though City have invested heavily this summer, including £116 million on England's Elliot Anderson, the signing of the 18-year-old Moroccan talent Bouaddi hasn’t stopped their pursuit of Fernandez. The deal for Bouaddi is reported to be worth €95 million (£81.4 million) plus up to €5 million (£4.28 million) in add-ons.

Bouaddi’s rise has drawn attention from big clubs like Arsenal, Manchester United, and Chelsea, but City won the race for his signature. He has already made close to 100 appearances for Lille and became their youngest-ever player at just 16 years and three days during a Conference League game in September 2023.

The transfer fee sets a new record for Lille, surpassing the €80 million Arsenal paid for Nicolas Pepe in 2019. Bouaddi signed a long-term contract with City until 2031, with an option for an extra year.

Fernandez Still on City's Radar

Despite the huge outlay on Bouaddi, City have not abandoned their interest in Fernandez. The Chelsea midfielder is keen to leave Stamford Bridge after failing to secure a move to Real Madrid earlier this summer. He's reportedly interested in rejoining Maresca, whom he worked with at Chelsea.

The main obstacle is Chelsea’s £120 million price tag, which City find excessive compared to their valuation of the Argentina international. This leaves City facing a tough decision with the transfer window closing soon and their midfield budget already stretched.

Midfield Concerns Highlighted by Bournemouth Match

Maresca’s urgency for more reinforcements was clear during City’s opening Premier League match against Bournemouth. City fell behind to Marcus Tavernier’s first-half goal but managed to come back and win 2-1 thanks to late goals from Marc Guehi and Josko Gvardiol.

While the win brought three points, the shaky midfield performance showed why City remain active in the market. Bouaddi is seen as a key long-term investment, but whether City will push for Fernandez depends heavily on Chelsea’s willingness to reduce their asking price.