Xabi Alonso Confirms Enzo Fernandez's Role Ahead of Potential Manchester City Transfer Bid

Xabi Alonso, manager of Chelsea, expects midfielder Enzo Fernandez to participate in the upcoming Carabao Cup match against Luton Town on Thursday. This comes amid ongoing rumors of a substantial late transfer offer from Premier League rivals Manchester City.

Despite reports suggesting that Manchester City are preparing a £120 million bid for Fernandez, Alonso confirmed his confidence in the player’s involvement. Fernandez recently appeared as a substitute in Chelsea’s Premier League opener against Fulham.

Fernandez's Expected Participation and Training

According to Alonso, Fernandez is actively training and ready to contribute to the team. He stated, "Yes, so we expect that he's involved. He has trained, he's training really well, he's a good professional and he will be involved."

Transfer Speculation and Chelsea’s Position

Fernandez, valued at £120 million, has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge all summer. Although Manchester City missed an informal deadline set by Chelsea earlier in the window, they remain eager to secure the midfielder before the transfer window closes.

Chelsea supporters gave Fernandez a warm reception during his recent appearance, despite earlier boos connected to his role in Argentina’s World Cup semi-final win over England.

Alonso on Retaining Fernandez

When asked about keeping Fernandez, Alonso expressed the need to carefully consider the situation: "We want to have the best team possible. We know his qualities. He has shown it and we have to wait, but we will think about tomorrow and let's see how things develop."

Potential Replacements if Fernandez Leaves

If Fernandez does depart, Chelsea are reportedly interested in returning to Bournemouth for Alex Scott. So far, Bournemouth have resisted offers, but an £80-90 million bid might prompt reconsideration.

Alonso was cautious when discussing whether selling Fernandez depends on acquiring a replacement. He said, "It is always about understanding the context, the situation, timings, circumstances, so there is not a defined rule for everything. You need to know how things have worked, what you want, what you want for the future, so I don't have the rules in stone. We need to assess each situation."

Upcoming Fixtures and Transfer Deadline

Chelsea’s immediate focus remains on their Carabao Cup match against Luton Town, where Fernandez is expected to play. Afterward, Alonso’s squad will turn attention to important Premier League matches.

Manchester City face a tight deadline to finalize any formal offer for Fernandez before the transfer window closes on September 1.

• Carabao Cup Match: Chelsea vs Luton Town, 27 Aug 2026, 20:30
• Premier League Matches: Crystal Palace vs Manchester City, 28 Aug 2026, 21:00