Maresca Addresses Enzo Fernandez Transfer Speculation Amid Chelsea Deadline
Enzo Maresca has moved to cool talk of a dramatic late swoop for Enzo Fernandez, insisting Manchester City are not expecting to do any business on Friday despite a ticking clock and a hard deadline from Chelsea.
City have been heavily linked with the Argentina midfielder, but time is almost up. Chelsea have set a firm cut-off of 5pm BST on Friday, August 14, for any bids to land on their desk, alongside a £120million asking price. Miss that window and the door closes.
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s Community Shield clash with Arsenal, Maresca was asked directly whether City fans should brace for a reunion with Fernandez before the end of the day.
“Not today, to be honest. I don't think we're going to do something today,” the Italian said in his Friday morning press conference, drawing a line through hopes of late fireworks.
Pressed again on Fernandez, Maresca reverted to a stance he has held since taking the job.
“In this moment, again, I have to give you the same answer since day one. It will always be the same. It's a player from another club, I don't think it's correct to talk about him.
At the same time, I don't think it's correct for other clubs to speak about our players. That's why I'm not going to say anything about players that aren't with us.”
The message was clear: City may admire Fernandez, but Maresca will not fuel the saga, nor will he promise what the club cannot deliver before Chelsea’s deadline slams shut.
Reijnders closing in on Saudi move
If Fernandez remains a distant prospect, one deal is much closer to the finish line.
Tijjani Reijnders is on the brink of leaving for the Saudi Pro League, with City having agreed a £51.2m transfer with Al Qadsiah on Thursday. Only the final formalities are left.
“Tij is not officially done, but we'll see in the next hour,” Maresca revealed. “I already spoke with him a few times in pre-season, then we will see if he is going to leave or if he is going to stay.”
Maresca has long been familiar with the Dutch midfielder, having tracked him from his time at Milan, and admitted he has been impressed by Reijnders’ contribution over the summer.
“In the way he was playing in the pre-season games, I was quite happy with his performance overall. I know Tij from Italy, from Milan when he was there so I know him quite well.
I know there he was playing in a different position, he likes to play a little more deep rather than high up the pitch, but again in the pre-season he was good, then we'll see what happens and we'll decide.”
As Chelsea’s 5pm line in the sand approaches and Reijnders edges towards Saudi Arabia, City’s midfield picture could shift sharply without a single new arrival walking through the door.
