Enzo Fernandez was left out of Chelsea’s squad for Thursday’s 2-0 win over Luton, and manager Xabi Alonso delivered a clear message about what he expects from his players: “desire to play.” This isn’t just about one game; it feels like the start of a massive shift at Stamford Bridge, with a huge transfer deadline looming.
The Staggering Price Tag That’s Only Going Up
Listen, everyone knows Manchester City is sniffing around Fernandez, even if there hasn’t been any formal contact yet. But here’s where it gets wild: Chelsea put a £120m price tag on him back in May after he told them he wanted out. Guess what? That £120m asking price “no longer strictly applies” anymore. Why? Because a deadline for offers set by the club on August 13 has passed, and Chelsea believes market valuations have gone through the roof. We’ve seen multiple deals in the Premier League and Europe for over £100m, and Liverpool just agreed to a £120m deal for Bradley Barcola from PSG.
If Chelsea sells Fernandez this late in the window, they’re gonna be scrambling for a replacement and risk getting charged a premium themselves. So, while the door isn’t closed on Fernandez leaving before Tuesday’s deadline, Chelsea is only open to it if it leaves them with options to strengthen. That means they will almost certainly demand *more* than the original £120m. It’s an insane situation.
Alonso Demands ‘Desire,’ No Excuses
Alonso didn’t pull any punches when talking about Fernandez’s absence. He straight up dismissed reports from Argentina that Fernandez asked *not* to be involved against Luton. Instead, the manager kept it simple: “We need the players that are in the best situation to play.” He added, “We need to take everything into consideration, players that are in good moments, players that are not feeling that energy to play. For me it’s very important that they feel that desire to play and to have good preparation.” Alonso confirmed they talked and decided it was better for Fernandez not to be part of the squad, but still called him “a top player, there’s no doubt about that.” Danny Welbeck made a home debut goal and an own-goal from Hakeem Odoffin secured the 2-0 win over Luton, so the Blues showed they could get it done without him.
Chelsea is back on the pitch Sunday for a Premier League game against Brighton, and you can bet all eyes will be on the squad sheet. With the transfer deadline looming on Tuesday, the club has already seen Mamadou Sarr head out on loan to Real Sociedad and Liam Delap sold to Nottingham Forest for £50m. Alonso said they’re “quite close to the plan that we had” for squad balance, but if Fernandez does leave, he’s gotta be ready to jump back into the market. This week is gonna be wild right up until the deadline.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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