Fernandez uncertainty at Chelsea echoes last summer's Isak transfer saga

Manchester City are still hoping to complete a deal for Chelsea's Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernandez, despite a 14 August deadline for formal bids passing without an offer being made. Chelsea have since told the player's camp that the 25-year-old is not for sale this transfer window.

The situation nonetheless carries echoes of last summer, when Newcastle United repeatedly insisted striker Alexander Isak was not for sale before he completed a British record move to Liverpool on the final day of the window.

Manchester City, managed by Fernandez's former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca, are looking to strengthen their midfield after Rodri's move to Barcelona. The club has already signed midfielder Elliot Anderson for a club-record fee from Nottingham Forest, winger Jeremy Monga from Leicester City, and goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli from Marseille, while also pursuing a deal for Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi.

Reports suggest Chelsea remain privately open to selling Fernandez and have brought in high-profile agent Jorge Mendes to help resolve the matter. Fernandez had earlier tried unsuccessfully to engineer a move to Real Madrid this summer. His relationship with Chelsea supporters has also grown complicated, with some fans jeering him during Saturday's friendly against Real Sociedad while others applauded.

Chelsea have shown signs of wanting to reintegrate him, handing him the captain's armband in the recent match. But doubt remains over his long-term future, with concerns that a late-window departure could cause disruption, particularly if new manager Xabi Alonso wants time to sign a replacement. How the situation resolves is expected to be a key storyline of the transfer window's final two weeks.