The situation surrounding Enzo Fernandez’s potential departure from Chelsea remains uncertain, with the club now in a period of waiting to see what unfolds.
Chelsea had set an informal cutoff of last Friday for clubs interested in signing the 26-year-old Argentine to meet their £120million valuation. However, no proposal was submitted to the west London side.
As things stand, there remains a belief that the Argentina international will be remaining at Stamford Bridge past the September 1 cutoff. Nevertheless, a bid from Manchester City could still materialise this week. Maresca’s interest in Fernandez has undoubtedly grown following the agreement for Rodri to join Barcelona.
Those with knowledge of the situation maintain that the conditions for Fernandez to depart for £120m are no longer valid. Any proposal from City would need to significantly exceed that figure to persuade Chelsea to part with the Argentine.
Fernandez faced a divided response from the home crowd during Saturday’s pre-season friendly at Stamford Bridge. Having been given an extended break following his World Cup commitments with Argentina, this was the midfielder’s sole pre-season appearance, and he only rejoined first-team training last week.
When he entered the match in the second half, a section of Chelsea supporters expressed their displeasure through boos, while others showed their support by cheering and chanting his name. The split among the fanbase is striking. All supporters will be keen to see whether he features in Alonso’s squad for the trip to Arsenal on September 6 – the Blues’ first match following the close of the summer transfer window.
In other matters, clubs eyeing Pedro Neto have been informed that a sum approaching £100m would be necessary to secure the Portuguese international. Sources close to Stamford Bridge indicate the west London club are not seeking to move the 26-year-old on, though they would consider an offer for the right price. Neto has attracted interest from both domestic and overseas clubs with less than a fortnight remaining in the transfer window.
Similarly, Tosin Adarabioyo has drawn attention from Marseille and Benfica, among other clubs, with Chelsea prepared to sell the 28-year-old defender before next month’s cutoff. The centre-back also has admirers within the Premier League, as Alonso aims to reduce his defensive options.
Axel Disasi looks set to depart, either permanently or on loan, with Crystal Palace among the clubs monitoring the French defender’s situation. Both Mamadou Sarr and Aaron Anselmino are expected to leave on season-long loan arrangements, with Chelsea preferring Sarr to remain in the Premier League for the coming season.
Malo Gusto has attracted interest from Manchester City, though his £75m valuation has caused Maresca’s side to effectively withdraw from pursuit. Chelsea are more open to allowing Gusto to leave following the summer arrival of the versatile full back Marco Palestra for £47m.
Mykhailo Mudryk is anticipated to depart on loan for the season. Strasbourg represents an option for the Ukrainian winger, who requires regular competitive football, though he also has several Premier League clubs expressing interest.
Omari Kellyman is poised to leave Chelsea permanently. Strasbourg officials are negotiating with their sister club regarding the acquisition of Kellyman. Sources familiar with the discussions expect the move to be finalised, though it has not yet been completed.
Chelsea striker Marc Guiu could depart Stamford Bridge on a permanent basis. Sources indicate the 20-year-old forward’s sale is the more probable outcome at present, with Premier League and Champions League clubs showing interest in the Barcelona academy product. The Blues are seeking approximately £25m for Guiu.
Nicolas Jackson carries a £65m valuation and has drawn interest from several Premier League sides, including Aston Villa. Chelsea, for their part, are seeking more than £50m for Liam Delap, who has attracted enquiries from clubs both domestically and abroad. The Blues are also working to find a permanent destination for outcast David Datro Fofana.