Maresca Addresses Enzo Fernandez Transfer Speculation

Enzo Maresca has cooled talk of a dramatic late move for Enzo Fernandez, insisting Manchester City are not expecting to do any business on Friday despite a looming deadline set by Chelsea.

City have been heavily linked with the Argentina midfielder, but the clock is ticking. Chelsea have put a firm 5pm BST cut-off on Friday, August 14, for any bids to land on the table, alongside a £120million asking price. Miss that, and the door shuts.

Speaking ahead of Sunday’s Community Shield clash with Arsenal, Maresca was pressed on whether City fans should brace for a big-name arrival before the end of the day and on the prospect of reuniting with Fernandez.

“Not today, to be honest. I don't think we're going to do something today,” the Italian said in his Friday morning press conference, drawing a clear line under hopes of a late scramble.

He refused to be drawn into the Fernandez saga, sticking rigidly to his stance on discussing players under contract elsewhere.

“In this moment, again, I have to give you the same answer since day one. It will always be the same. It's a player from another club, I don't think it's correct to talk about him.

“At the same time, I don't think it's correct for other clubs to speak about our players. That's why I'm not going to say anything about players that aren't with us.”

While a blockbuster midfield signing looks unlikely before Chelsea’s deadline, one significant outgoing is moving quickly towards completion.

Maresca confirmed that Tijjani Reijnders is on the brink of sealing a move to Saudi Pro League side Al Qadsiah after a £51.2m fee was agreed on Thursday.

“Tij is not officially done, but we'll see in the next hour,” he said. “I already spoke with him a few times in pre-season, then we will see if he is going to leave or if he is going to stay.

“In the way he was playing in the pre-season games, I was quite happy with his performance overall. I know Tij from Italy, from Milan when he was there so I know him quite well.

“I know there he was playing in a different position, he likes to play a little more deep rather than high up the pitch, but again in the pre-season he was good, then we'll see what happens and we'll decide.”

So while the market swirls around them and Chelsea’s 5pm line in the sand approaches, City’s manager is keeping his feet planted: no rush, no noise, and no guarantees that the midfield puzzle will be solved before the window’s next twist.