Manchester City have begun talks to sign Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez, according to reports.
Fernandez, a £106.8 million signing from Benfica, already raised doubts over his future at Chelsea following the club’s Champions League exit two months ago.
Chelsea then handed Fernandez a two-game suspension for his comments made about a possible move to Madrid during the last international break.
According to Sky Germany, Manchester City have placed Fernandez at the top of their summer shortlist and ‘initial talks have already taken place behind the scenes’.
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The report adds that Enzo Maresca, who is expected to replace Pep Guardiola as manager this summer, ‘is particularly keen’ to sign Fernandez for his new club.
Fernandez had a strong relationship with Maresca during their time together at Chelsea and speaking in March, the Argentine criticised the club over the Italian’s exit.
‘I don’t understand it either,’ Fernandez told Mexican broadcaster TUDN.
‘Sometimes there are things that we as players don’t understand, how and in what way they try to manage things.
‘Obviously, it was a departure that hurt us a lot because we had an identity. He gave us an order, even though, as is the way of football, sometimes it’s good and bad.
‘But he always had a very clear identity when it came to training and playing, and obviously his departure hurt us a lot, especially in the middle of the season, it cuts everything short.’
Chelsea have missed out on qualifying for next season’s Champions League ahead of their final Premier League game of the campaign away to Sunderland this Sunday.
The highest Premier League finish Chelsea could secure is seventh, which could be enough for a place in the Europa League if Aston Villa drop to fifth.
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