Maresca says City will miss Chelsea deadline for Fernández

Enzo Maresca has said Manchester City are not expected to meet Chelsea’s deadline to sign Enzo Fernández, with the manager indicating that no move is likely to happen on Friday despite interest in the midfielder.

Chelsea set their terms over Fernández

Chelsea have placed a 5pm Friday deadline on offers for Fernández, making clear that any club must meet their valuation by that point or walk away. City are interested in the midfielder, who previously worked with Maresca at Stamford Bridge, but the deal would require a fee of £120m.

Speaking before Sunday’s Community Shield against Arsenal in Cardiff, Maresca suggested City would not make progress before the cut-off. He said he did not think the club would do anything that day, while also acknowledging there is still work to be done before the transfer window closes.

Maresca focused on first final with City

The City head coach is preparing for his first major match in charge and made it clear that his immediate attention is on the game rather than incoming or outgoing transfers. Maresca said the final was his priority and stressed his desire to win his first trophy with the club.

Even so, he accepted that the final stretch of the window could be active. City are close to signing 18-year-old Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille, and Maresca indicated that further movement may depend in part on whether players push to leave.

Rodri and Reijnders add to late-window uncertainty

City’s squad planning is also being shaped by interest in players already at the club. Barcelona have had two bids for Rodri rejected, and a third offer is expected. The midfielder, who has one year left on his contract, returned to the club on Friday after his holiday following Spain’s World Cup success.

Maresca did not offer any firm indication over Rodri’s future, instead pointing to the unpredictable nature of the market. His comments reflected the wider uncertainty around City’s business as the window moves towards its conclusion.

Tijjani Reijnders, meanwhile, is expected to leave in the coming days. Al-Qadsiah have agreed a £51m fee for the Netherlands international, who joined City from Milan last summer but is seeking more regular playing time.

More departures could follow

Maresca acknowledged the challenge of managing a large squad, noting that players who train every day naturally expect to play. He said it was understandable that some, after a season with limited opportunities, would want a bigger role elsewhere.

James Trafford has already been sold to Leeds, while Omar Marmoush, Rico Lewis and Savinho are among those who could also depart after spending much of Pep Guardiola’s final season on the fringes.

For now, however, the clearest message from Maresca is that City are unlikely to meet Chelsea’s deadline for Fernández. With a final against Arsenal looming and several other moving parts in the squad, the club’s late-window strategy remains open-ended.