Enzo Fernández Left Out of Chelsea Squad Again as Manchester City Circle

Two straight games left out of the squad. That's what's happening to Enzo Fernández at Chelsea, right as Europe's transfer window is about to slam shut. The Argentine was missing from the matchday list for the 4-3 win over Brighton at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League, and he also sat out the midweek League Cup victory over Luton, a club playing in England's third tier.

The absence didn't go unnoticed. Especially with Manchester City's name being floated heavily as a suitor for his signature before the window closes on Tuesday night. Xabi Alonso, Chelsea's manager, didn't dodge the question when asked whether Enzo had already played his last match in the blue jersey.

We'll see. We want what's best for the team and that's why we made the decision against Luton and also today. We need to stay alert until Tuesday night to see how things develop. We're not sure. We're preparing for every scenario. I'm confident that, whatever happens, from Wednesday we'll have a squad good enough to compete in the Premier League.Xabi Alonso

That phrase, preparing for every scenario, says plenty. It's not a door slammed shut, nor is it confirmation of a departure. It's the classic line from a manager who knows something is brewing behind the scenes and would rather not get ahead of it.

A Record-Breaking Signing

It's worth remembering where Enzo Fernández came from. He joined Chelsea from Benfica in 2023 for 106.7 million pounds (roughly $131.4 million at the time), a figure that stood as the transfer record in English football when the deal went through. Since then he's become a regular fixture in London's midfield, arriving in England with a World Cup title already won with Argentina in 2022 on his resume.

For a player of that caliber, with that price tag and that track record, to be left out of two consecutive squads isn't something that happens by chance. And with City knocking on the door, the mood at Stamford Bridge is one of restrained anticipation until the transfer window shuts.

The truth is Chelsea didn't need him to collect the three points against Brighton, in a match that produced seven goals between the two sides. Alonso's team showed it has depth and options, something the manager himself hinted at when he insisted the squad would be "good enough" to compete in the Premier League no matter what happens with Enzo.

Now everything hinges on what unfolds in the coming hours. Whether the Argentine midfielder ends up heading to Manchester or ultimately stays in London is something that will be settled before the window closes. In the meantime, Chelsea continues on its Premier League path with a record-breaking player watching from the outside.