According to The Athletic, Chelsea on Wednesday demanded that Manchester City make an offer for the Argentine international by 5 pm Beijing time on Friday. Chelsea have made it clear that Fernandes will not leave this summer if Manchester City, or any other club, fails to meet their £120 million valuation for the player by the deadline.
But why did Chelsea make this public? Will Manchester City make an offer? Does Chelsea have a way to replace him? Does Manchester City really need him?
The Athletic posed these questions to Chelsea journalist Simon Johnson and Manchester City journalist Sam Lee, and here are their answers.
Why did Chelsea feel it was necessary to make this public?
Simon Johnson stated that with Chelsea's first match of the new season less than two weeks away, they clearly do not want this transfer saga to drag on for the remainder of the month, causing significant disruption to the team.
From the outset, Chelsea had clearly defined their valuation of Fernandes, so their message was simple: either sell at the asking price, or don't even talk. Chelsea also didn't want to wait until late in the transfer window to scramble to find a replacement.
New manager Xabi Alonso has spoken with Fernandes since taking over and is willing to include him in his plans. Chelsea is also prepared to welcome him back to the team after the turmoil at the end of last season, when he was suspended for two matches for discussing the club's decision in an interview and had also shown signs of contact with Real Madrid.
Chelsea believe he can perform well under Alonso's guidance and hope the drama surrounding his future will end soon.
Given that Manchester City paid £116 million for Elliott Anderson and Tottenham spent £100 million for Tonali, Stamford Bridge believes that a £120 million asking price for a World Cup winner is reasonable.
Will Manchester City really offer £120 million?
Sam Lee stated: "The total price of £120 million is indeed very high, and it's easier to imagine that they tried to lower the price. However, Manchester City were very keen to sign him throughout the summer."
Manchester City are determined to back Enzo Maresca this summer, which also includes their interest in signing Fernandes. City will likely test Chelsea's private stance to see if they are as assertive as they appear, despite their public pricing and deadlines speaking volumes.
Is Manchester City the only team chasing this midfielder?
Simon Johnson stated: No, other clubs participating in the Champions League are also interested in him. However, not many teams can afford that transfer fee, which is a problem Fernandez will face if he is determined to go elsewhere. It should be emphasized that the 25-year-old player has never explicitly stated in interviews that he wants to leave.
His previous comments about wanting to live in Madrid one day sparked much speculation. Real Madrid issued a rare statement earlier this month, insisting that they had not listed him as a transfer target.
If Fernandes is not in the squad, does Manchester City have any other midfield options?
Sam Lee said: "I'm sure they'll have other options, but Fernandez is definitely the first choice."
If this deal falls through, they'll have to determine if other options are equally suitable and worth the gamble.
Why has Fernandes suddenly become Manchester City's choice again?
Sam Lee stated that they had already listed him as one of their most important targets before the end of last season.
This advancement came relatively late, possibly because Rodri and Reindes were close to leaving the team, and it took Manchester City some time to get the situation to where it is now.
Do Chelsea have a replacement if needed?
Simon Johnson stated that Alonso can now also move up to six other midfielders: Moises Caicedo, Lavia, Dario Essugo, Jordán, Barentin Barco, and captain Reece James. The development of young players is still in its early stages, but the Chelsea manager was impressed by 16-year-olds Mahdi Nicol Jazuli and Reggie Watson during the preseason tour.
It should also be noted that Chelsea made a £64 million bid for Bournemouth's Alex Scott earlier in this window, but it was rejected, which also indicates that there are other names on their transfer list.
Each club typically has a long list of candidates for both short-term and long-term goals.
However, at this stage of the transfer window, securing a desired player is not easy. Sellers also know that if Fernandes leaves, Chelsea will have an extra £120 million in their coffers, meaning they are likely to raise their asking price accordingly.
Which is better for Chelsea: leaving or staying?
Simon Johnson said: You could say it's a win-win situation for Chelsea because they either keep Fernandes or have an extra £120 million in their account, but it's better to keep him in the team.
It's better for Fernandes to stay. Last season, only João Pedro (20 years old) scored more goals for Chelsea than him with 15, and he did so from a deeper position.
Yes, there are still areas where he needs to improve, especially in terms of discipline and those unnecessary yellow cards he received for protesting the referee's decisions.
Some fans, after seeing his words and actions this year, may not mind his departure. But Fernandez is indeed hard to replace.
Working with former world-class midfielder Xabi Alonso will definitely elevate his level. Fernandez has a bit of a ruthlessness on the field, and if used correctly, that's exactly what's needed to compete for big titles.
Opposing fans might boo him for causing England's loss to Argentina in the World Cup, a match in which he was perhaps one of the best players on the pitch. But that's more likely to motivate him than shake his confidence.
Does Manchester City need him?
Sam Lee stated: "This issue has always been controversial among fans! Perhaps a misconception is that people see him as a replacement for Rodri, but that's not how he plays."
Personally, I think he's a top player, albeit in a slightly different role. While he's not the strongest off the ball, I believe he possesses some valuable, hard-to-quantify qualities. I think he's the kind of player who can step up in crucial moments and deliver incredible intensity.
If he's from a completely different era than Bernardo Silva and Rodri, and doesn't seem nearly as consistent, a midfield pairing of Fernandes and Elliott Anderson would at least be very interesting. In short, I think Manchester City needs him.
