Will Man City still sign Enzo Fernandez? Enzo Maresca transfer stance on Chelsea ace revealed amid £86m Ayyoub Bouaddi agreement
Man City continue midfield rebuild after Bouaddi deal
Man City have agreed an £86m deal for the Lille sensation, but the arrival of the highly-rated teenager has not ended their interest in Fernandez, according to The Guardian.
Maresca has overseen a major overhaul of his midfield this summer following Rodri's move to Barcelona. The Premier League side have already spent £116m on England international Elliot Anderson and will now add Bouaddi in a deal worth €95m (£81.4m) plus €5m (£4.28m) in potential add-ons. Despite that significant investment, Fernandez remains on City's radar as Maresca looks to add further quality to his engine room.
Bouaddi becomes City's latest major midfield investment
The 18-year-old Morocco international attracted interest from Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea before City won the race for his signature.
Bouaddi made almost 100 appearances for Lille and established himself as one of the most promising young midfielders in European football. He also became Lille's youngest-ever player when he debuted at 16 years and three days in a Conference League match in September 2023.
The agreement reportedly makes Bouaddi the French club's record sale, surpassing the €80m Arsenal paid for Nicolas Pepe in 2019. The teenager has agreed a long-term contract running until 2031, with City holding an option to extend it by another year.
Fernandez remains on Maresca's radar
However, City's spending on Bouaddi has not prompted them to abandon their pursuit of Fernandez.
The Chelsea midfielder made it clear earlier in the summer that he wanted to leave Stamford Bridge after his hopes of joining Real Madrid failed to materialise. He is also understood to be interested in reuniting with Maresca at City after working with the Italian during his time at Chelsea.
The major stumbling block is Chelsea's valuation. The London club want £120m for Fernandez, while City believe the Argentina international is worth considerably less.
That leaves City with a decision to make as the transfer window approaches its conclusion, particularly after they have already committed substantial funds to strengthening midfield.
Bournemouth comeback highlights midfield concerns
Maresca's desire for reinforcements comes after City endured an uncertain start to the new Premier League campaign.
Their midfield was tested during the opening-day trip to Bournemouth, where Marcus Tavernier put the hosts ahead in the first half. City eventually recovered to win 2-1 after late goals from Marc Guehi and Josko Gvardiol.
The victory provided Maresca with three points, but the performance underlined why the club remain active in the market following Rodri's departure. City now have Bouaddi lined up as a major long-term midfield investment. Whether they are prepared to make another huge commitment for Fernandez, however, will depend largely on whether Chelsea lower their valuation.
