Chelsea have reportedly drawn a firm line under the immediate possibility of selling Enzo Fernández for £120 million, with the club making it clear to the midfielder’s camp since May that the figure would effectively represent the price required to unlock a departure. According to the trusted information supplied to OGM News FC, that position has now hardened, with Chelsea happy to keep Fernández and continue building around him. The latest development comes after Manchester City maintained contact with the player’s representatives, including active discussions during the past 48 hours. Recent reporting confirms that City missed Chelsea’s Friday deadline to submit a £120 million offer, leaving the Blues expecting Fernández to remain at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea Say £120 Million Was the Number — Then Apparently Moved the Goalposts
The situation is particularly intriguing because Chelsea’s £120 million valuation had been widely reported for months. Fernández, who joined the club from Benfica in January 2023 for a British-record fee of about £107 million, remains under contract until 2032. Earlier reports indicated that Chelsea would consider allowing him to leave if their valuation was met, while the midfielder’s future became increasingly uncertain following Chelsea’s failure to qualify for European competition.
But according to the OGM News FC scoop, the £120 million figure should now be viewed less as an invitation to start negotiations and more like a velvet rope outside an extremely expensive nightclub: theoretically, anyone with the money can enter, but Chelsea apparently no longer feels obliged to open the door. Recent reporting supports the broader picture that Chelsea now expect Fernández to stay after City failed to meet the deadline, despite City’s interest remaining a possibility before the transfer window closes.
Manchester City Keep Talking While Chelsea Keep the Player
Manchester City’s interest has been closely linked to their midfield planning, particularly amid uncertainty surrounding Rodri. City have considered Fernández as a potential addition while operating under their new manager, Enzo Maresca, who previously coached the Argentine at Chelsea. Reports earlier this week said City were weighing a major move, but the £120 million valuation presented a significant obstacle.
The latest twist, however, is that City’s continued communication with Fernández’s camp does not automatically mean a transfer is imminent. In fact, City did not submit the required offer before Chelsea’s deadline, while Maresca indicated on Friday that there would be no immediate signing involving Fernández. Chelsea, meanwhile, appear increasingly comfortable with the idea of keeping the World Cup-winning midfielder rather than waiting nervously beside the fax machine for Manchester City to produce £120 million.
For now, the transfer saga therefore resembles a high-stakes game of footballing poker: Chelsea have shown their hand, City are still sitting at the table, and Fernández remains the expensive midfielder nobody has yet managed to take home. The OGM News FC scoop suggests that Chelsea’s position has changed from “pay £120 million and we will listen” to something much closer to “we are actually quite happy keeping him.” Unless Manchester City return with radically different conditions or a fresh proposal, Fernández is increasingly likely to remain a Chelsea player.
OGM News FC will continue monitoring the situation as the transfer window approaches its final stages. For now, Chelsea appear determined to keep Enzo Fernández, Manchester City remain interested, and the £120 million question that has dominated the saga may have become considerably more complicated than simply reaching for the cheque book. Stay tuned to OGM News FC for further updates as this transfer drama develops.
