Enzo Fernandez to Man City latest as Maresca issues transfer request

17 Aug 2026 06:01 BST | 4 min read

Enzo Maresca, Enzo Fernandez, Man City — © IMAGO

Cameron Smith | Digital Content Producer

Accredited sports journalist covering football since 2020

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Manchester City boss Enzo Maresca has confirmed that he wants new signings to arrive at the club as soon as possible amid significant interest in Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez.

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The eight-time Premier League champions kicked off their 2026-27 campaign with a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Arsenal in the Community Shield on Sunday afternoon, with Riccardo Calafiori, Kai Havertz and Martin Odegard all on the scoresheet for Mikel Arteta’s side.

Current ETV

Enzo Fernández

M, DM (C)

Chelsea

Enzo Fernández

M, DM (C)

Chelsea

ETV Range

€83.3M - €101.8M

City have already spent €177.2 million on five new signings so far this summer - Elliot Anderson, Mathys Debourtet, Jeremy Monga, Pierce Charles and Geronimo Rulli - but Maresca has revealed that his team will be busy in the market until Transfer Deadline Day on 1 September.

Man City have reached an agreement to sell Rodri to Barcelona for an initial fee of €60 million, and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has confirmed they are now on the verge of finalising a deal to sign Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi as his replacement.

However, Fernandez remains on their radar and with Tijjani Reijnders set to be sold to Al-Qadsiah, City are expected to launch a formal approach for the Argentina international shortly, despite missing Chelsea’s self-imposed deadline of 17:00 BST on Friday 14 August.

The Blues are asking for at least €140m to sanction a sale and Maresca has now indirectly told Fernandez that he must look to finalise a move to City as soon as possible.

© IMAGO - Man City want to sign Enzo Fernandez

Enzo Maresca issues transfer request

Speaking to reporters after City’s defeat to Arsenal, Maresca admitted: “Any new signing, the sooner they arrive the better because we are starting the Premier League in one week and if they start to work with us as soon as possible it's better that they can also understand the way we want to play.

“We knew already before the game of the things that we need to do. It's not because we lost the game or even if we had won the game to think differently. We are quite clear in what we need to do and for sure we are going to do something before the window closes.”

Fernandez is obviously aware of Maresca’s preferred style of play, having spent 18 months under the Italian’s tutelage at Chelsea, but the City boss evidently wants the club to finalise their transfer business quickly as he prepares for their opening fixture of the new Premier League season against Bournemouth on Sunday.