Fernandez omitted from Chelsea squad amid Man City transfer interest

Enzo Fernandez was unexpectedly omitted from Chelsea's squad for their Carabao Cup match against Luton Town on Thursday, August 27, 2026, a decision that intensified speculation about the midfielder's future amid strong interest from Manchester City. The move came just one day after manager Xabi Alonso had indicated the Argentina international would be available for selection.

Alonso confirmed the change of plans before kickoff at Kenilworth Road, telling Sky Sports, "We assessed situations, individual and collective and we had decided he is not in the squad for today." The decision marks a significant shift from Alonso's comments on Wednesday, when he said he expected Fernandez to be involved. The player had featured as a substitute in Chelsea's Premier League opener at Fulham on August 25, where he received a mixed reception from fans.

Fernandez's absence is widely linked to ongoing transfer negotiations. Manchester City are expected to submit a formal bid for the 25-year-old before the transfer deadline on Tuesday, September 1. Chelsea have reportedly set an asking price of around £120 million for the former Benfica player. The club had initially set an informal deadline of...