Reijnders Exit Nears as City Weigh £120m Fernandez Move
The noise around Enzo Fernandez is getting harder to ignore. With Tijjani Reijnders reportedly on his way out of Manchester City after just one season, the pieces are starting to fall into place for a significant midfield reshuffle at the Etihad.
According to Fabrizio Romano, the Dutch international is set to join Saudi Pro League side Al Qadsiah, with City set to receive £52.1 million for a player who arrived only last summer. It is a quick turnaround, and one that raises questions about the club's long-term planning in the middle of the park.
What is clear is that Enzo Maresca wants Fernandez. The City boss knows the Argentine intimately from their time together at Chelsea, and reports from Daniel Feliciano at Give Me Sport suggest he is keen to bring that familiarity to his new side.
Chelsea, however, are not making it easy. The London club have slapped a £120 million price tag on Fernandez and, according to David Ornstein, have set a deadline of 5pm tomorrow for any bid to arrive. That gives City a narrow window to act if they are serious.
Whether City will meet that valuation remains to be seen, but the Reijnders sale would go some way towards funding a deal. The timing is tight, and Chelsea's stance suggests they are in no mood to negotiate for long.
For Maresca, this is about more than just adding quality. It is about getting players he trusts, players who know his methods and his expectations. Fernandez fits that profile as well as anyone on the market right now.
The next 24 hours will be telling. If City want Fernandez, they will need to move quickly and pay handsomely. If not, the Reijnders money could be used elsewhere. Either way, something is brewing.