Enzo Fernandez left out of Chelsea squad amid Manchester City transfer buzz

A starter for Argentina at the World Cup gets left out of a squad for a cup match. That alone raises eyebrows. But throw in rumors of a Manchester City offer on the table, and the story becomes the talk of the day at Stamford Bridge.

Enzo Fernandez was not included in Chelsea's squad list for the 2-0 win over Luton Town in the League Cup, a result the Blues wrapped up without much trouble: a goal on his debut from Danny Welbeck and a Luton own goal did the job. Still, the Argentine's name generated more headlines than the scoreline itself.

Manager Xabi Alonso addressed the decision on Friday, ahead of Sunday's Premier League match against Brighton. He didn't shy away from the heart of the matter: the kind of distraction a possible exit can cause in the middle of a transfer window.

We need players who are in the best situation to play. We have to take everything into account: players who are in good form, players who don't feel that energy to play. For me it's very important that they feel that desire to play and have good preparation.Xabi Alonso

The Spanish coach went further, revealing that the decision was discussed directly with the midfielder. "We talked, and we decided that for the match against Luton it was better that he not be part of the squad," Alonso explained, making clear that the exclusion has nothing to do with his level on the field: "He's a top player, there's no doubt about that."

A closing window with little room to maneuver

Behind all of this is Manchester City's interest in signing Enzo Fernandez, one of the most sought after names in the final stretch of the European transfer market. The problem for Chelsea is timing: if the deal were to go through, the London club would have very little time to find a replacement before the transfer window closes on Tuesday.

Fernandez arrived at Stamford Bridge as one of the club's biggest investments in recent years and was a key piece in Argentina's World Cup triumph in Qatar. Now, with the transfer window about to shut, his immediate future is being decided more in boardrooms than on the pitch. Alonso, meanwhile, will have to figure out Sunday's match against Brighton not knowing whether he'll have one of his best players available.