Chelsea raise asking price for Enzo Fernandez amid Manchester City interest

Chelsea have increased their asking price for Enzo Fernandez from €120m (£103.2m) to €140m (£120.6m) as Manchester City continue their efforts to sign the Argentina international during the summer transfer window.

Manchester City are leading the race for the 24-year-old and are working to complete a deal as they seek to replace Rodri following his move to Barcelona.

City manager Enzo Maresca is also keen to reunite with Fernandez, having previously worked with the midfielder, and is pushing for the player to join him at the Etihad Stadium.

Fernandez is understood to have already reached an agreement with Manchester City over personal terms. Chelsea, who previously insisted the midfielder was not for sale, are now considered more open to sanctioning his departure.

The London club are nevertheless demanding a substantial fee for a player who remains under contract until the summer of 2032. Their valuation has risen by €20m, with negotiations continuing over a potential transfer.

Jorge Mendes was involved in Fernandez’s move to Stamford Bridge in January 2023 and has returned to the centre of discussions as efforts continue to help Chelsea reach an agreement over the midfielder’s exit.

Fernandez joined Chelsea from Portuguese club Benfica in January 2023. Since then, he has made 169 appearances for the Blues, scoring 31 goals and providing 30 assists.

He has won the FIFA Club World Cup and the UEFA Conference League once each with Chelsea.

Chelsea’s pre-season campaign has included six matches. They began with a 6-4 victory over Western Sydney Wanderers before losing 2-1 to Tottenham in their second friendly.

A 1-0 defeat by Juventus followed, but Chelsea responded with a 3-0 win against AC Milan in their fourth preparation match. They then drew 3-3 with Johor before completing their pre-season schedule with a 3-1 victory over Real Sociedad.

Chelsea finished last season 10th in the Premier League with 52 points.

They begin their new league campaign against Fulham at Craven Cottage on Monday evening. The fixture will come as Maresca’s side continue preparations for the season while uncertainty surrounds Fernandez’s future.

Manchester City’s interest adds urgency to the situation, with Chelsea having to decide whether to retain a key member of their squad or accept a major offer for a player whose contract contains almost seven years remaining. City, meanwhile, are attempting to move quickly to strengthen their midfield following Rodri’s departure to Barcelona.

The eventual outcome will depend on whether Manchester City are prepared to meet Chelsea’s revised €140m valuation.