Enzo Fernandez Nears Record Man City Move as Xabi Alonso Drops Star from Chelsea Squad

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso refused to guarantee the immediate future of Enzo Fernández and Pedro Neto as the club navigates a frantic end to the transfer window, with Fernández nearing a potential £130 million move to Manchester City, according to reports from Goal and Sky Sports.

Alonso left Fernández out of his matchday squad for the second consecutive fixture during Chelsea’s 4-3 Premier League victory over Brighton, following a similar absence against Luton in the Carabao Cup. According to Sky Sports, the Argentine midfielder has reportedly agreed terms with Manchester City, while Chelsea are demanding a £130 million package to sanction the sale.

Alonso Addresses Roster Uncertainty Before Deadline

Speaking to reporters after the win against Brighton, Alonso explained that dropping Fernández was a decision made strictly in the best interests of the team while negotiations unfold. According to BBC coverage of the press conference, the Spanish coach acknowledged the swirling speculation heading into the final hours of the window.

“We’ll see. We want the best for the team and that’s why we made the decision [to leave Fernandez out] against Luton and today,” Alonso said, as reported by Goal. “Anything that happens before Tuesday evening, we need to be aware of what is going to develop. We are not sure, we are preparing for all the scenarios.”

Despite the looming departure of their star midfielder, Alonso expressed confidence in the depth of his squad moving forward. “I am sure that whatever happens from Wednesday we will have a good enough squad to compete in all the Premier League games,” Alonso added.

Replacement Signings and Neto’s Role

To mitigate the impact of Fernández’s expected exit, Chelsea are anticipating further incomings and have reportedly agreed terms with Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara, according to the source. Finalising that deal is expected to accelerate Fernández’s switch to the Etihad Stadium before the window closes.

Meanwhile, Portuguese winger Pedro Neto also finds himself facing an uncertain future in west London as several Premier League rivals monitor his situation. Despite being deployed in an unfamiliar wing-back role against Brighton, Neto delivered a standout performance, scoring one goal and remaining a constant attacking threat.

When pressed on whether Neto would definitely remain with the Blues past the deadline, Alonso offered no absolute assurances. “No, in football I don’t guarantee anything, not anyone,” Alonso admitted to reporters.

“But I was very happy with Pedro. He did really well, he played with a lot of energy. He is going to be very important for the team for the whole season because he has different special qualities,” Alonso continued, praising the player’s one-v-one threat and strength.

Once the transfer window shuts, Alonso will shift his total focus back to domestic fixtures, aiming to maintain Chelsea’s 100 percent winning start to the Premier League campaign.