City Miss Fernandez Deadline as Rodri Heads to Barcelona
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- Manchester City remain interested in Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez despite missing Chelsea's 5pm Friday deadline, with Chelsea valuing him at £120m from terms agreed with his representatives in May.
- Fernandez came on as a substitute and was booed by sections of Chelsea fans during the 3-1 friendly win over Real Sociedad on Saturday, having been suspended for two matches last season after casting doubt over his future on international duty.
- Manchester City are in talks with Lille over Morocco international Ayyoub Bouaddi, with Lille understood to want around £85m — a figure confirmed by Lille head coach Davide Ancelotti at the weekend.
- Rodri is set to undergo a Barcelona medical ahead of a £65.4m move, agreeing a four-year contract after Barcelona's third offer succeeded where initial £40m and £55m bids were rejected.
- Tijjani Reijnders is set to join Saudi Arabian side Al Qadsiah for around £51m, leaving City to replace two midfielders in the final two weeks of the window.
- Real Madrid ruled out a move for Fernandez in early July via an official club statement, leaving City as the remaining reported suitor.
Why it matters: City must replace two departing midfielders (Rodri to Barcelona for £65.4m, Reijnders to Saudi Arabia for £51m) before September 1. Chelsea's £120m asking price for Fernandez is nearly double what Barcelona paid for Rodri — a gap that explains why City let the Friday deadline pass without bidding.
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