Manchester City Targeting Fernandez Amid Chelsea's Uncertainty

Manchester City are readying a fresh push for Fernandez, even after letting Chelsea’s informal deadline drift by earlier in the window.

The midfielder, rated at around £120 million, has sat at the centre of a summer-long tug of war, his future at Stamford Bridge debated almost daily. Yet for now, Chelsea still plan with him, not without him.

Alonso plans to use Fernandez

Xabi Alonso expects Fernandez to be involved in Chelsea’s Carabao Cup tie against Luton Town on Thursday, according to The Independent. The Argentine came off the bench in the Premier League opener at Fulham on Monday, and his manager made it clear that, as things stand, he remains part of the squad.

“Yes, so we expect that he's involved. He has trained, he's training really well, he's a good professional and he will be involved,” Alonso said, underlining that preparation for Luton includes the midfielder.

The reception at Craven Cottage told its own story. Chelsea supporters greeted Fernandez warmly when he entered the pitch, a sharp contrast to the boos that met him during a pre-season friendly at Stamford Bridge. Those jeers stemmed from his controversial role in Argentina’s World Cup semi-final win over England, a subplot that has lingered into club football.

Now, the mood has shifted. The home crowd appears ready to move on. The transfer market has not.

City circling, Chelsea weighing up options

Pressed on whether he wants to keep Fernandez, Alonso didn’t hide his admiration, but he stopped short of any guarantees.

“We want to have the best team possible. We know his qualities. He has shown it and we have to wait, but we will think about tomorrow and let's see how things develop,” he said.

The message was clear: Chelsea value him, but they are braced for movement. Manchester City are expected to lodge another bid before the September 1 deadline, testing both Chelsea’s resolve and their long-term plan for the midfield.

Behind the scenes, contingency work has already started. If Fernandez leaves, Chelsea are preparing to return to Bournemouth for Alex Scott. Bournemouth have so far shut down every approach, but there is a growing belief that an offer above £80 million – and likely closer to £90 million – could force a rethink on the south coast.

Alonso, though, refused to link any potential sale directly to the arrival of a replacement.

“It is always about understanding the context, the situation, timings, circumstances, so there is not a defined rule for everything,” he said. “You need to know how things have worked, what you want, what you want for the future, so I don't have the rules in stone. We need to assess each situation.”

For now, Fernandez is training, playing and being cheered by Chelsea fans again. City are circling, the deadline is looming, and Chelsea stand on the brink of a decision that could reshape their midfield for years.