Xabi Alonso Confirms Enzo Fernandez Likely to Play Amid Manchester City's Transfer Pursuit

Xabi Alonso, Chelsea's manager, anticipates that Enzo Fernandez will take part in their upcoming Carabao Cup match against Luton Town on Thursday. This comes despite swirling rumors about a substantial £120 million bid from Premier League rivals Manchester City.

Fernandez’s Carabao Cup Role

Manchester City are reportedly eager to secure Fernandez's transfer before the window closes, with their manager Enzo Maresca pushing hard for a deal. Though Chelsea had set an informal deadline earlier this month that City missed, speculation about Fernandez’s move has not faded. Chelsea values him at around £120 million.

Alonso confirmed Fernandez’s involvement in the Carabao Cup, saying: "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." Fernandez recently came off the bench in Chelsea's Premier League opener against Fulham on Monday.

Fan Reception and Club Strategy

Fernandez was warmly welcomed by Chelsea supporters during his appearance at Craven Cottage, contrasting with the boos he faced in a pre-season friendly due to his controversial World Cup semi-final performance for Argentina against England.

Asked about retaining Fernandez, Alonso expressed caution, noting Chelsea needs to carefully evaluate 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." A fresh bid from Manchester City is expected before the transfer window shuts on September 1.

Potential Replacements if Fernandez Leaves

If Fernandez moves on, Chelsea plans to revisit interest in Bournemouth's Alex Scott. Although Bournemouth has resisted offers so far, a bid exceeding £80 million, possibly near £90 million, might change their stance. Alonso avoided linking Fernandez’s sale directly to bringing in a replacement:

• Alonso: "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."

Looking Ahead

Chelsea’s immediate focus remains on the Carabao Cup match against Luton Town, where Fernandez is expected to feature. After that, attention will turn back to key Premier League fixtures. Meanwhile, Manchester City continues their efforts to put forward an acceptable offer before the transfer deadline next week.

Upcoming Fixtures:

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