Manchester City target Enzo Fernández but Chelsea’s £120m price tag may be too high

Rodri in action for Spain in the World Cup final last month. Photograph: Image Photo Agency/Getty Images

Barcelona make improved £51m bid for Rodri as Manchester City target Fernández

Barcelona have made an improved bid to Manchester City of around €60m (£51m) for Rodri. This follows Barça’s initial offer of €45m that was rejected out of hand by City.

The Spanish club’s new offer – which may include add-ons – is close to City’s valuation for the 30-year-old who captained Spain to the World Cup and won the Ballon d’Or in 2024.

As the midfielder has declared a preference for Barcelona it seems it is inevitable he will leave. In preparation City are targeting Chelsea’s Enzo Fernández as a potential signing though the west London club’s valuation of around £120m may be too high.

Chelsea are understood to be intent on that price for the attacking midfielder so any transfer may include add-ons. Enzo Maresca is keen on Fernández after working with him for a season-and-a-half at Chelsea before his tenure ended in January.

The 25-year-old was a key member of Maresca’s team that finished fourth and won the Europa Conference in 2024-25 and the Fifa Club World Cup last summer.

If City were to sign Fernández, a World Cup winner with Argentina in 2022, another midfielder could be offloaded, with Tijjani Reijnders a possible candidate to depart.

As Rodri is intent on a move to Barcelona the arrival of Fernández, Chelsea’s captain, would add seniority and leadership to Maresca’s squad and a player whose combative style would offer an edge to City’s play.

City have so far recruited Elliott Anderson for £116m from Nottingham Forest and are close to the signing of Ayyoub Bouaddi for around £85m from Lille.

Chelsea are thought to have enquired about Bournemouth’s Alex Scott as a replacement for Fernández should he leave.

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City announced on Wednesday the signing of Gerónimo Rulli on a two-year deal following James Trafford’s move to Leeds. The Argentina goalkeeper was previously at the club in 2016-17.

The 34-year-old said: “My job now is to train hard, get to know the players and staff and do everything I can.”