Chelsea and Manchester City are facing a crucial few days in the transfer market as the futures of Enzo Fernández and Rodri become increasingly connected. Chelsea have reportedly set a Friday deadline for clubs interested in Fernández, while City have rejected another major offer from Barcelona for their Spanish midfielder.
Chelsea are prepared to consider selling Fernández, but only if their demands are met quickly. The London club have placed a £120 million valuation on the Argentina international and want any serious offer to arrive before 5pm BST on Friday. If that deadline passes without an acceptable proposal, Chelsea intend to keep the midfielder for the new season.
Manchester City are among the clubs interested in Fernández. The 25-year-old could become an important target if Rodri leaves the Etihad Stadium, creating a potentially expensive chain of transfers between three of Europe’s biggest clubs.
Fernández joined Chelsea from Benfica in January 2023 for a British-record deal worth around £106 million at the time. Since then, he has become a central figure in the Blues’ midfield. Despite Chelsea’s difficult 2025-26 campaign, the World Cup winner remained productive and influential, making his possible departure one of the major stories of the summer window.
Chelsea’s Friday deadline appears designed to avoid uncertainty continuing too close to the start of the season. Selling such an important player would leave the club needing enough time to adjust its squad, while keeping Fernández would allow the coaching staff to move forward with greater clarity.
City’s interest is closely linked to Barcelona’s pursuit of Rodri. The Spanish champions have reportedly returned with a second offer worth approximately €60 million, around £51 million, but Manchester City have rejected the proposal.
🚨🇵🇹 There’s currently a significant gap in valuation between Man City and Chelsea for Pedro Neto deal.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 12, 2026
Chelsea do not plan to reduce their requests for the Portuguese winger.
🎥➕ https://t.co/QGPKUT6qiI pic.twitter.com/jtnydlXlfG
Barcelona’s interest is significant because Rodri could be open to returning to Spain. However, City are unwilling to allow one of their most important players to leave cheaply. Reports differ slightly over the exact valuation, but the Premier League club are believed to want considerably more than Barcelona’s latest proposal before agreeing to a sale.
Rodri has been a defining figure in City’s midfield since arriving from Atlético Madrid in 2019. His ability to control possession, protect the defence and dictate the rhythm of matches has made him extremely difficult to replace. That explains why City could turn to a player of Fernández’s quality if a deal with Barcelona eventually becomes possible.
The financial side of the situation presents another challenge. Meeting Chelsea’s £120 million asking price would require a huge investment, particularly after City’s other major spending this summer. The club may therefore need to complete further sales before making a formal approach.
One player who could depart is Tijjani Reijnders. The Netherlands international has attracted interest from Saudi Arabia, with Al-Qadsiah reportedly discussing a deal worth around €60 million. Such a transfer could give City additional flexibility as they consider their midfield options.
For Barcelona, meanwhile, the question is whether they are prepared to increase their Rodri offer enough to change City’s position. A third bid would put further pressure on the English club, especially if the midfielder makes his preference for a move clear.
The next major moment is now Friday. Chelsea’s deadline means City cannot simply wait for the Rodri situation to develop indefinitely before deciding whether to pursue Fernández.
With three major clubs and two world-class midfielders involved, the situation could change quickly. Chelsea want clarity, Barcelona want Rodri, and City may need Fernández if their midfield leader leaves. The coming days could therefore produce one of the biggest transfer stories of the summer.