- Chelsea have told Manchester City that a deal for Enzo Fernández must be completed before Friday, 17:00 local time
- Manchester City have been in discussions with the representatives of the 25-year-old Argentina international for several days, but no final agreement has been reached
- Napoli have raised their proposal for Benoit Badiashile to a €3m loan fee and a €20m option to buy, but Chelsea have still not accepted
Fernández Chase Reaches a Firm Chelsea Deadline
Chelsea’s summer transfer activity has entered a critical stage, with the club setting Manchester City a clear cut-off point in their pursuit of Enzo Fernández.
According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea have informed Manchester City that any agreement for Fernández must be completed before Friday, 5 pm local time. If that deadline is missed, the West London club will not permit the Argentina international to move to the Etihad Stadium.
🚨 BREAKING: Chelsea fix Friday 5pm UK time deadline for Enzo Fernández exit. 💣
Manchester City in talks with his camp for days but #CFC made it clear: £120M fee with payment terms also communicated.
£120M by Friday at 5pm or Chelsea will not sell Enzo to Manchester City. 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/l9epIca5cB
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 12, 2026
Manchester City have spent several days negotiating with the representatives of the 25-year-old midfielder, although no final agreement has been secured so far.
Chelsea are seeking around £120 million for Fernández this summer, pointing to both his significant ability and the length of his Stamford Bridge contract, which runs until 2032.
Napoli Still Waiting for Chelsea Approval on Badiashile
Chelsea are also involved in ongoing discussions with Napoli over centre-back Benoit Badiashile, but there is still no agreement between the clubs despite an improved offer from the Partenopei, according to the latest reports in Italy.
Napoli are attempting to reinforce Massimiliano Allegri’s defence after injuries to centre-backs Alessandro Buongiorno, Sam Beukema and Luca Marianucci. None of the three are expected to be fit in time for the start of the 2026-27 season, while Buongiorno is expected to remain sidelined until 2027 because of a knee injury.
Over the course of the last week, Napoli have been trying to complete a deal for Badiashile, most likely structured as a loan with either an option or an obligation to buy.
Loan Fee Agreed, Buy Clause Still Unresolved
Reports on Wednesday stated that Napoli and Chelsea had reached agreement on a €3m loan fee for the 2026-27 season. However, there is still no agreement over the purchase fee, or whether the clause would be an option or an obligation.
Chelsea had reportedly been asking for a guaranteed obligation to buy set at €15m, but were also prepared to accept an option to buy in the region of €18m-€20m.
According to the latest updates from Sky Sport Italia on Thursday, Napoli have improved their bid to a €3m loan fee plus a €20m option to buy. Chelsea have still not given their approval and are reportedly waiting for additional bonus clauses. Talks are expected to continue over the coming hours.
Transfer Negotiation Snapshot
| Player | Clubs Involved | Current Situation | Key Financial Details | Contract or Clause Detail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enzo Fernández | Chelsea and Manchester City | Chelsea have set a deadline before Friday, 17:00 local time; no final agreement has been reached. | Chelsea are demanding around £120 million. | Fernández is under contract at Stamford Bridge until 2032. |
| Benoit Badiashile | Chelsea and Napoli | Napoli have increased their offer, but Chelsea have not accepted. | Napoli’s latest proposal is a €3m loan fee and a €20m option to buy. | Chelsea had reportedly wanted a €15m obligation to buy, or an option in the region of €18m-€20m. |
