Manchester City have opened talks with Chelsea over a move for Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez. It remains to be seen whether the two clubs can agree a price, but if a deal is reached it is expected to be completed rapidly as personal terms are not an issue. Chelsea had set an unofficial deadline earlier this summer for a minimum fee of £120m, which passed without agreement.

Fernandez could become one of the most expensive signings in Premier League history, behind only Liverpool's £125m move for Alexander Isak last summer. The midfielder maintains a positive relationship with Maresca, who left Chelsea on New Year's Day and moved to Etihad Stadium in June. This could be the second time City break their transfer record in the same window after paying £116m for Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest.

City have also seen four major midfield departures: Tijjani Reijnders sold to Al-Qadsiah for £52m, Rodri signed by Barcelona for £65m, Nico Gonzalez agreed to Newcastle for £52m, and Bernardo Silva departed for Real Madrid. Fernandez's situation has been turbulent at Stamford Bridge, with he and his agent Javier Pastore courting interest from Real Madrid, who denied any attempt to sign him.