Chelsea manager Alonso remains tight-lipped regarding Fernandez’s future amidst ongoing transfer speculation

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso stated that midfielder Enzo Fernandez was preparing well for their Premier League opener at Fulham on Monday, but he refrained from confirming whether the Argentine had expressed a desire to remain with the club amid transfer speculation.

Last week, British media reported that Chelsea had set a deadline of August 14 for Manchester City to meet their valuation of Fernandez at 120 million pounds ($163.52 million). Fernandez joined from Benfica in January 2023 on an 8-1/2-year contract for a then-British record fee of 106.8 million pounds.

Alonso, who departed Real Madrid in January after just seven months at the helm, has been given the responsibility of revitalizing Chelsea after a challenging, trophyless season that saw the west London club finish 10th in the Premier League.

When asked if Fernandez would remain a Chelsea player by the time the transfer window closes on September 1, Alonso responded to reporters on Thursday: “Enzo is a Chelsea player. He’s a top, top player.

He has been training exceptionally well since he joined the team 10 days ago, showing impressive integration. We are pleased with him, and he is preparing for Monday.

When asked if the 2022 World Cup-winner had expressed a desire to remain, Alonso deftly avoided the question.

“He’s training exceptionally well, demonstrating a positive attitude, which is precisely what we desire. He’s putting in considerable effort to get ready for the start of the Premier League.”

Alonso’s inaugural Premier League match leading the Blues will see him face off against his former teammate and friend, Alvaro Arbeloa, who is now the manager of Fulham. Arbeloa took over from Alonso as the manager of Madrid prior to the club’s appointment of Jose Mourinho in June. “We can have a relationship, but on the pitch there are no friends, no past—just the 90 minutes we fight for each club,” Alonso stated.