Updated: 27 Apr 2026 12:50 BST |
4 min read
Chelsea interim head coach Calum McFarlane has hinted that selling Enzo Fernandez shouldn’t be considered by the club’s hierarchy during the upcoming summer transfer window.
The Argentina international has been heavily linked with a Stamford Bridge departure in recent weeks, after flirting with the possibility of joining Real Madrid last month, and it’s understood that Chelsea would be willing to sanction a sale if a suitable offer arrives.
Real Madrid are reportedly keeping tabs on Fernandez’s situation amid their pursuit of a new central midfielder, while Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain have also added the 25-year-old to their transfer radar ahead of this summer.
However, Fernandez’s current contract at Chelsea isn’t due to expire until 2032 and the Blues are expected to demand a fee close to the €121 million they paid to sign him from Benfica back in January 2023.
Fernandez was sanctioned by the club following his comments during the March international break, but he has now been reinstated into the starting XI and he has worn the captain’s armband in Chelsea’s past two fixtures due to the absence of Reece James through injury.
The Argentina midfielder led Chelsea out at Wembley during their FA Cup semi-final versus Leeds United on Sunday afternoon and he scored the only goal of the game to set up a mouth-watering final against Man City next month.
Fernandez also won the official Man of the Match award following a fantastic performance in the Wembley sun and McFarlane’s post-match comments suggest that he believes Chelsea must reject any offers they receive for the 25-year-old this summer.
Calum McFarlane heaps praise on Enzo Fernandez
Speaking to reporters after Chelsea’s win, McFarlane admitted: “I said to him [Fernandez] at the end, I said, ‘you like scoring at the back post for me’. And he just laughed.
“He does that really well, he’s done it all year. It’s one of his biggest attributes, that when you attack down the right, his timing of his runs, his ability to actually get good distance and height on his jump and his heading technique is really good,” McFarlane continued.
“He’s a winner, he’s got so much talent, he’s got so much fight, he’s massive for the group. And the best thing about Enzo is that he can do a bit of everything, but when it gets tough, you see the fight in him, you see him making tackles, you see him fighting for every loose ball. So he was exceptional today and deserved his Man of the Match.”
Speculation surrounding Fernandez’s future is expected to continue over the next few weeks, but Chelsea’s interim head coach is clearly of the opinion that a sale shouldn’t be accepted.
If Fernandes does leave Stamford Bridge, however, it’s expected that a deal for his compatriot Valentin Barco will be finalised with Chelsea’s sister club Strasbourg.
Related stories:
Fabrizio Romano drops Chelsea next manager bombshell
Enzo Fernandez to Man City: A transfer Chelsea can’t afford to accept
Chelsea Transfer News Today: Blues get Gordon chance as Jackson decision confirmed
The FootballTransfers app
Check out FootballTransfers’ new app for all of football’s big storylines, transfer rumours and exclusive news in one convenient place directly on your mobile device.
The FootballTransfers app is available on Google Play and in the Apple App Store. Download here:
•Google Play
•App Store
