Will Manchester City Still Pursue Enzo Fernandez After Signing Ayyoub Bouaddi?

Manchester City's Midfield Plans: Enzo Fernandez Still in Sight

Despite sealing an £86m deal for Lille's rising star Ayyoub Bouaddi, Manchester City have not dropped their interest in Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez. Manager Enzo Maresca is actively reshaping the squad’s midfield following Rodri’s transfer to Barcelona, aiming for further reinforcements.

Bouaddi Deal and City's Midfield Overhaul

The agreement to bring Bouaddi to City is seen as a major investment. The club will pay €95m (£81.4m) upfront with an additional €5m (£4.28m) in bonuses. This comes on top of the £116m spent earlier this summer on England international Elliot Anderson. Even after these large commitments, Maresca has his sights set on adding more quality to the midfield.

• Player: Ayyoub Bouaddi
• Age: 18
• Nationality: Morocco
• Previous Club: Lille
• Transfer Fee: €95m + €5m add-ons (£86m total)
• Contract Length: Until 2031, with option for one more year

Bouaddi attracted attention from Arsenal, Manchester United, and Chelsea before City secured his signature. He made nearly 100 appearances for Lille and became their youngest-ever player at just 16 years and three days old during a Conference League match in September 2023. His transfer reportedly sets a new record sale for Lille, surpassing Nicolas Pepe's €80m move to Arsenal in 2019.

Fernandez Remains on City's Radar

Even with Bouaddi joining, City are still interested in Enzo Fernandez. The Chelsea midfielder expressed a desire to leave Stamford Bridge after a move to Real Madrid fell through earlier in the summer. Fernandez also shares a connection with Maresca, having worked under him previously at Chelsea.

The main obstacle remains Chelsea's steep £120m asking price, which City see as too high compared to their valuation of the Argentina international. With the transfer window closing soon and significant funds already spent, City face a choice about whether to pursue Fernandez further if Chelsea do not reduce their demands.

Early Season Midfield Concerns Highlight Need for Reinforcements

City’s midfield showed vulnerability during their opening Premier League match against Bournemouth. Marcus Tavernier gave the hosts the lead before City came back to win 2-1 thanks to late goals from Marc Guehi and Josko Gvardiol. While the win was valuable, the performance highlighted why Maresca wants more options in midfield post-Rodri.

With Bouaddi positioned as a long-term midfield asset, City's willingness to invest heavily again on Fernandez depends on Chelsea’s flexibility on price.