Manchester City boss Enzo Maresca has refused to be drawn on his side’s reported interest in Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez, insisting he will not discuss players who are not currently on his books.
Speaking to reporters, the Italian was pressed once again on City’s links to his former Stamford Bridge player, but stuck firmly to the line he has maintained throughout the transfer window.
“In this moment, again, I have to give you the same answer since day one and it will always be the same; it’s a player from another club and I don’t think it’s correct to speak about other players,” Maresca said, as quoted by CityXtra.
He added: “At the same time, I don’t think it’s correct when other clubs speak about our players. That’s why I’m not going to say nothing about players that are not with us.”
Friday deadline looms over Fernandez saga
The comments come with Chelsea reported to have set interested clubs a 5pm deadline on Friday, 14 August, to meet their £120m valuation of Fernandez if they want to strike a deal before the transfer window moves into its final stretch.
According to Sky Sports, the west London club imposed the cut-off partly to avoid a repeat of the disruption caused when Maresca’s own exit from Stamford Bridge was confirmed on New Year’s Day. Chelsea keen for Xabi Alonso and his squad to be able to focus on the season ahead without a prolonged saga hanging over the dressing room.
Sky Sports also reported that Chelsea have received no bids for the 25-year-old so far this summer, and that the club have no intention of selling him in this window or in January if their asking price is not met.
Asked directly whether City expected to complete any transfer business on the day of the deadline, Maresca was similarly non-committal.
“Not today, to be honest. I don’t think we’re going to do something today,” he said, a response that will do little to dampen talk of a move but stops well short of confirming one.
A reunion with history behind it
Any deal would reunite Maresca with a player he knows intimately. The pair worked together for roughly a year and a half at Chelsea, a spell that yielded Conference League and Club World Cup triumphs before the Italian’s departure from the club in January.
Fernandez made close to 80 appearances under Maresca in all competitions, contributing goals and assists from midfield, and has previously been praised by his old manager for his leadership qualities on and off the pitch.
That relationship is understood to be a significant factor behind City’s interest, with reports suggesting Maresca has pushed for a move since the transfer window opened, even before Barcelona’s pursuit of Rodri added extra urgency to City’s midfield planning.
Should Rodri depart for Catalonia, as has been widely speculated, City would be left needing fresh options in the middle of the park — an area where Fernandez’s profile, blending defensive discipline with progressive passing, is seen as a natural fit for Maresca’s system.
Price remains the sticking point
For now, though, the deal hinges on finances. Chelsea’s £120m valuation is said to be non-negotiable, and with the Argentine still having six years left on his contract, the Blues are under no pressure to sell below their asking price.
City, for their part, are understood to hope they can negotiate the fee down, but there is no indication a breakthrough is imminent.
Maresca’s reluctance to engage with the speculation is nothing new — it mirrors the stance he has taken on every transfer question put to him this summer.
However, with Chelsea’s deadline now just hours away, City face a decision on whether to test that resolve or allow the moment to pass.
