Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has confirmed that Enzo Fernandez is expected to feature in the club's Carabao Cup clash with Luton Town on Thursday, even as speculation continues to swirl around a potential late move for the midfielder from Manchester City.
Fernandez, valued at around £120million, has been the subject of persistent transfer talk throughout the summer, with City reportedly keen on bringing the Argentine to the Etihad. Chelsea had set an informal deadline for offers, which passed without a bid from City, but the Blues anticipate another approach before the transfer window closes on 1 September.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding his future, Fernandez has continued to train and play for Chelsea. He came off the bench during the club's Premier League opener against Fulham, a match that saw him receive a notably warmer welcome from Chelsea's travelling supporters than in the past. The reception marked a shift from an earlier friendly at Stamford Bridge, where he had been booed by home fans. At Craven Cottage, it was Fulham supporters who targeted him, referencing his part in Argentina's penalty shootout win over England during the World Cup semi-final.
Alonso addressed the 25-year-old's fitness and involvement ahead of the League One visitors' trip to Stamford Bridge. "Yes, so we expect that he's involved," the Chelsea boss said. "He has trained, he's training really well, he's a good professional and he will be involved."
When pressed on whether he personally wants to retain Fernandez amid the ongoing transfer saga, Alonso struck a diplomatic tone, emphasising the club's broader ambitions rather than committing to a definitive stance. "We want to have the best team possible," he said. "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, Chelsea are reportedly plotting a renewed pursuit of Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott as part of their summer business. The Cherries have so far resisted any approaches for the player, though there is a belief within the game that an offer exceeding £80million — potentially closer to £90million — could prompt Bournemouth to reconsider their position.
The timing of any Fernandez departure, should it materialise, has fuelled speculation about whether it would be contingent on Chelsea successfully bringing in a replacement such as Scott. Alonso, however, declined to confirm any direct link between the two situations, instead pointing to the complexity of navigating transfer business under shifting circumstances.
"It is always about understanding the context, the situation, timings, circumstances, so there is not a defined rule for everything," Alonso explained. "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."
With the transfer deadline fast approaching, Chelsea find themselves managing multiple threads simultaneously — preparing for cup competition while fielding interest in one of their prized midfielders and exploring the market for potential incomings. How the situation with Fernandez resolves itself in the coming days could have significant implications for the Blues' squad depth and transfer strategy as the window draws to a close.
Based on reporting from The Independent.