Chelsea have drawn a clear line in the sand over Enzo Fernandez, informing Manchester City that any formal bid for the Argentina midfielder must arrive by 5pm on Friday or not at all this summer.

The London club value Fernandez at £120m and are determined to avoid a late-window saga that could unsettle new head coach Xabi Alonso and his squad. Fernandez, a World Cup winner with Argentina, still has six years remaining on his contract after joining from Benfica for around £107m in the 2023 winter window, strengthening Chelsea’s hand in negotiations.

City’s interest in Fernandez has grown amid uncertainty over the future of their midfield linchpin Rodri. Barcelona have already seen a £40m offer for the Spain international rejected but are prepared to return with an improved bid in the £50m to £60m range. While City want to keep the 30-year-old, he is into the final year of his contract, and a substantial offer could force a decision.

Should Rodri depart, Fernandez is viewed as a prime candidate to reshape City’s midfield. He enjoyed a strong relationship with Enzo Maresca during the Italian’s spell in charge at Stamford Bridge, a factor that has only intensified speculation since Maresca took over at the Etihad.

Relations between the two clubs, however, are already strained. City paid £17m in compensation to appoint Maresca after he resigned from Chelsea with more than three years left on his deal, a move that left senior figures at Stamford Bridge angered by both the timing and manner of his exit.

Chelsea’s hierarchy believe interested clubs have had ample time to move for Fernandez and are determined not to relive the disruption that accompanied Maresca’s departure. The internal view is that Alonso must be allowed to start the season with clarity over his key players, and that means shutting down any Fernandez negotiations once the Friday deadline passes.

Fernandez’s own future has been under scrutiny since he was briefly dropped in April after admitting he would welcome living in Madrid, comments that prompted an apology from both the player and his agent as they sought improved terms. Real Madrid later issued a statement distancing themselves from any move.

City, meanwhile, are working on alternative midfield options. Talks continue with Lille over Morocco international Ayyoub Bouaddi, and they have already invested heavily in the position by signing Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for £116m.