The summer transfer window of 2026 has featured quite a few big club deals that could be best described as ‘one of the worst secrets of the summer’ and manager Enzo Maresca‘s chase of Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez can categorically be described as one of the best saga’s yet.
The Etihad Stadium recruiters had clearly made the 25 year old midfielder one of the top priorities of the summer and the speculation rumour mill had been full of claims and counterclaims for the last few months. The Premier League betting odds also more than reflected this from early on in the window. Despite no contact being officially made between the sides, it has long been believed on both sides that a deal had more than been agreed in principle on personal terms – but there had been absolutely no movement on a transfer fee itself.
With our necessary dealings with Stamford Bridge over the appointment of Maresca himself, given his earlier departure from Chelsea did slightly complicate matters, many had wondered to what degree (if any) the 49 capped Argentine international had been discussed at that point. Especially then when Chelsea came out with their statement that if a deal was to be done for the World Cup winner, it would be to their unofficial deadline and with a fee with a minimum floor of £120 million.
This unofficial deadline passed with seemingly no movement.
So rather predictably, as soon as we hit Deadline Day this morning everything seemed to jump into high gear and the press was awash with fresh speculation that talks had now, finally, been officially opened and were progressing well on negotiations for both the fee, and the over all structure of the transfer.
From the minute the news broke, this was going to be the story that dominated Tuesday’s affairs – and likely saw us hit the deadline with silence, until the all too regular ‘deal sheet is in’ confirmation was received. Meaning fans would now be waiting until midnight for fresh news, and possibly the next day – or as happens on some rare occasions, three or four days later.
If it were to go through at a minimum of £120 million, it would again represent one of the most expensive deals of a summer that has already seen a number of deals in excess of £100 million go through and into the record books. It would also represent a new club record transfer deal following the earlier capture of Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for a reported £116 million.
With Fernandez maintaining his positive relationship with Maresca despite the manner of his departure from the club, allied to the Argentine’s own known unhappiness in London that began getting aired back in March when they were knocked out of the Champions League competition by eventual second time winners Paris Saint-Germain, the good money is that this deal will have been rubber stamped and signed long before City fans rise for the daily grind of work on Wednesday.
This belief is only magnified by Spanish La Liga giants Real Madrid’s chase of him until they backed out, denying that they had made any attempt to sign him, and he seemed to double down on his Chelsea criticism and a clean break seemed even more likely.
And of course, in true blockbuster style, the deal went down to the wire before being officially announced. And all for a snip at a reported £125million. Now all eyes on how he settles and justifies his price tag. Easy!
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