Manchester City continue to reshape their midfield under Enzo Maresca after a busy summer at the Etihad Stadium.
The club have already spent heavily, but further changes could still arrive before the transfer deadline.
City signed Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for £116 million earlier this summer.
However, Rodri now looks increasingly likely to leave the club, while Tijjani Reijnders has also attracted transfer interest.
Those potential departures could force City back into the market for another major midfield addition.
Maresca wants players capable of handling significant responsibility in his new-look side.
According to Football Insider, Manchester City are exploring a move for Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez.
However, Chelsea have previously valued the Argentina international at around £120 million.
That figure would force City to break their transfer record again after spending £116 million on Anderson.
City are currently unwilling to meet Chelsea’s full valuation and hope to negotiate a lower price. Chelsea would reluctantly consider selling Fernandez if they receive a suitable offer.
However, they want to remain close to their £120 million asking price and currently have little intention of offering City a major discount.
Maresca is a big admirer of Fernandez and knows him from their time together at Chelsea. The City manager therefore has the midfielder high on his list as he plans further changes.
However, Fernandez is not City’s only target. Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi remains their first-choice midfield option during the closing stages of the window.
City have worked on a deal for Bouaddi for several months, but they have not reached an agreement. Lille could demand around £100 million for the youngster.
Signing Bouaddi would significantly reduce City’s chances of also paying a huge fee for Fernandez.
However, further midfield exits could change their financial position. Rodri and Reijnders could both generate funds if they leave.
In that scenario, City may look to sign two midfielders before the window closes, potentially keeping both Fernandez and Bouaddi under consideration.
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