Manchester City have reportedly reached an agreement with Chelsea to sign Argentina international Enzo Fernandez for a staggering £125 million, in a deal that would equal the British transfer record.
The proposed move would see Fernandez leave Stamford Bridge for the Etihad Stadium after three-and-a-half years at Chelsea, with City prepared to match the record fee Liverpool paid Newcastle United for striker Alexander Isak on last summer’s Deadline Day.
Fernandez joined Chelsea from Benfica for £107 million, making him one of the most expensive signings in Premier League history.
The latest agreement will see Chelsea make an estimated £18 million profit on the midfielder.
A key factor behind the proposed transfer is Fernandez’s desire to join Manchester City, where he would be reunited with Enzo Maresca, his former Chelsea manager.
Fernandez is understood to have made his preference for a move to City clear, paving the way for the two clubs to reach an agreement on the huge transfer fee.
The Argentina international is now expected to undergo a medical examination before completing the final formalities of his transfer to the Premier League champions.
His arrival would provide City with another technically gifted and versatile midfielder, while giving Maresca the opportunity to reunite with a player he previously worked with at Chelsea.
Chelsea, meanwhile, are already working on potential replacements for Fernandez as they prepare for his departure.
The London club have reportedly been pursuing Roma midfielder Manu Koné and Monaco’s Lamine Camara, while also exploring other midfield options within the Premier League.
The Blues will face a race against time to secure a replacement, with the transfer window set to close at 11pm.
However, clubs can submit deal sheets to the Premier League before the deadline, allowing them an additional two hours to complete transfers that have been agreed but require final paperwork.
If completed, Fernandez’s £125 million move would represent one of the biggest transfers ever seen in English football and would underline Manchester City’s willingness to make a major investment in midfield as they continue to strengthen their squad.
For Chelsea, the deal would bring a significant financial return on Fernandez, but the club now face the immediate challenge of finding a suitable replacement before the transfer window closes.
