Kenya Sport

Enzo Fernandez Could Fill Key Gap at Manchester City, Former Defender Sees £120m Chelsea Transfer as ‘Big Plus’

Colin Hendry, a former Chelsea defender, told GOAL that Enzo Fernandez could fill an important role missing at Manchester City. The World Cup winner is expected to be a “big plus” for Enzo Maresca if he leaves Chelsea, despite the hefty price tag rumored to be around £120 million ($162 million).

City's Summer Spending and Midfield Upgrade

This summer, City have already invested heavily, spending £116 million ($156 million) on Elliot Anderson, briefly making him the most expensive British player ever. They are also eyeing Lille’s young talent Ayyoub Bouaddi, which could involve another nine-figure fee.

With speculation swirling about Ballon d’Or winner Rodri possibly returning to Spain, either to Barcelona or Real Madrid, City appear ready to strengthen their midfield with a proven Premier League star like Fernandez.

Chelsea reportedly set a deadline of August 14 for official bids and negotiations, so time is tight if City want to add more Premier League experience to their squad.

Does a £120 Million Move Make Sense?

Asked about the potential transfer, Hendry said, “Yeah, with what they’re trying to replace, it does make sense. He has done really well since coming into the Premier League with Chelsea. It would be a good addition.”

He added, “City’s squad is strong, but every team competing for major trophies has huge squads packed with talent. He’s going to be expensive, but these days prices have gone from tens of millions to hundreds of millions. It’s crazy, but that’s just how the market is now. I think he’d be a good fit for City.”

Filling the Void Left by De Bruyne and Gundogan

Fernandez could supply the kind of goal-scoring presence from midfield that City have lacked since losing Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan. Hendry noted, “It’s been an issue because you need goals coming from multiple players. Apart from Haaland up front, who scores loads thanks to chances created for him, City need someone else contributing around 10 goals from midfield. If Fernandez can do that, it’s a big plus for them.”

Chelsea Unlikely to Let Fernandez Go Easily

The 25-year-old midfielder moved to English football from Benfica in January 2023 and currently earns around £180,000 per week at Stamford Bridge. While personal terms won’t be a problem, Chelsea under new manager Xabi Alonso are reluctant to sell such a prized asset, especially to a direct Premier League rival like City.

  • Club: Chelsea
  • Deadline for bids: August 14, 2026
  • Current weekly salary: £180,000
  • Age: 25
  • Transfer fee expected: £120 million ($162 million)
  • Potential new club: Manchester City

City’s next fixtures include a Community Shield match against Arsenal on August 16, 2026, and the transfer window will remain a focus as they prepare for the new season.

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