Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso has suggested Enzo Fernandez's enthusiasm for playing at Stamford Bridge has waned, as speculation over a potential move to Manchester City intensifies ahead of the summer transfer deadline.
The Argentine midfielder was once again left out of Chelsea's squad on Thursday night as the Blues cruised to a 2-0 victory over Luton Town in the second round of the Carabao Cup. Fernandez had also been absent three days earlier when Chelsea beat Fulham in the Premier League, meaning he has now missed back-to-back fixtures.
He is expected to remain sidelined for Sunday's Premier League clash against Brighton as well.
Manchester City are reportedly poised to submit a formal offer for the World Cup winner before Tuesday's deadline, testing Chelsea's willingness to sell. According to club sources, no direct talks between the two clubs have yet taken place, but Chelsea would weigh up any bid that meets their valuation of the player, believed to be in excess of £120 million.
Alonso addressed the situation directly when questioned about Fernandez's continued absence from matchday squads. The Spanish coach confirmed that leaving the midfielder out against Luton was a call he made personally, while also noting the fixture presented an opportunity to give minutes to squad players who have seen less action.
"I have said we need the players that are in the best situation to play," Alonso said. "We need to take everything into consideration — players that are in a good moment, players that are not feeling that energy to play. For me, it is very important that they feel this desire to play and to have good preparation."
When pressed on whether Fernandez had genuinely lost his motivation to represent the club, Alonso did not deny the suggestion outright, instead pointing to a mutual understanding between player and staff.
"We talked, and we decided for [Luton] it was better not to be part of the squad," he said. "He is a top player."
The uncertainty around Fernandez comes at a busy juncture for Chelsea's squad planning, with several other departures already finalised. Striker Nicolas Jackson has completed a move to Aston Villa, while Liam Delap has already joined Nottingham Forest, further reshaping Chelsea's attacking options before the window shuts.
Asked about his broader satisfaction with the squad he now has at his disposal heading into the final stretch of the transfer period, Alonso struck a measured tone, acknowledging that the process is largely, but not entirely, complete.
"We are quite close to the plan we had," the Chelsea boss said. "We will see where we finish, if it is fully executed or there are things still to be done or things we couldn't do."
Fernandez, who arrived at Stamford Bridge in a big-money move and has been a regular figure in Chelsea's midfield since, now finds his immediate future clouded in doubt. Should Manchester City follow through with a bid that satisfies Chelsea's asking price, the Blues could be forced into a significant reshuffle of their midfield options just as the new Premier League season gets underway.
For now, Fernandez remains on the periphery of matchday squads, with Alonso's comments offering the clearest indication yet that internal discussions about his role — and possibly his departure — are well underway behind the scenes at Cobham.
Based on reporting from Standard Sport (football).