Xabi Alonso Confirms Enzo Fernandez Likely to Play for Chelsea Despite Manchester City's £120 Million Bid
Xabi Alonso, the manager of Chelsea, expects Enzo Fernandez to participate in the upcoming Carabao Cup match against Luton Town on Thursday. This comes amid strong rumors that Premier League rivals Manchester City are preparing a huge £120 million offer to sign Fernandez before the transfer window closes.
Transfer Speculation and Club Plans
Despite missing an informal deadline set by Chelsea earlier this summer, Manchester City remains determined to sign Fernandez. The midfielder has been one of Chelsea’s most valuable players this season, with a price tag around £120 million.
Alonso confirmed Fernandez's likely involvement, saying: "Yes, so we expect that he’s involved. He has trained, he’s training really well, he’s a good professional and he will be involved."
Fernandez recently appeared as a substitute in Chelsea’s Premier League opener against Fulham and is expected to play again on Thursday.
Fan Reaction and Club Strategy
Fernandez was warmly welcomed by Chelsea fans at Craven Cottage, which contrasts with the boos he received during a pre-season friendly, largely due to his controversial role in Argentina’s World Cup semi-final victory over England.
When asked if Chelsea aims to keep Fernandez, Alonso responded carefully: "We want to have the best team possible. We know his qualities. He has shown it and we have to wait, but we will think about tomorrow and let’s see how things develop."
Meanwhile, Manchester City is expected to submit another offer before the September 1 deadline.
Possible Replacements If Fernandez Leaves
If Fernandez departs, Chelsea may return their focus to signing Alex Scott from Bournemouth. While Bournemouth has so far rejected interest, a bid exceeding £80 million, possibly approaching £90 million, could change their stance.
Alonso avoided making clear whether selling Fernandez depends on securing a replacement, stating: "It is always about understanding the context, the situation, timings, circumstances, so there is not a defined rule for everything. You need to know how things have worked, what you want, what you want for the future, so I don’t have the rules in stone. We need to assess each situation."
Upcoming Fixtures and Transfer Deadline
Chelsea’s immediate focus is the Carabao Cup game against Luton Town, where Fernandez is expected to play. Afterward, Alonso’s squad will prepare for important Premier League matches.
At the same time, Manchester City faces pressure to finalize a deal before the transfer window closes next week.
- Carabao Cup Fixture: Chelsea vs. Luton Town, 27 Aug 2026, 20:30
- Premier League Fixture: Crystal Palace vs. Manchester City, 28 Aug 2026, 21:00
