Xabi Alonso explains Enzo Fernandez’s absence from Chelsea squad amid Man City interest

Xabi Alonso revealed that Enzo Fernandez would not be part of Chelsea's squad for their upcoming Carabao Cup match against Luton Town. Although Alonso had previously expressed expectations of Fernandez's inclusion, the midfielder has been the subject of significant interest from Manchester City. The Argentine international is highly sought after by City, and Chelsea anticipates a bid for him, despite missing an informal transfer deadline earlier in the month.

The fee Chelsea might consider for Fernandez's sale is around £120 million, and the transfer window closes next Tuesday. Manchester City has been busy signing players, including Elliot Anderson and Ayyoub Bouaddi, but they have yet to complete their midfield rebuilding process. Despite this, Alonso fielded a strong team against Luton, selecting Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers, both of whom were absent from the squad.

Alonso explained that after assessing the situation both individually and collectively, they decided not to include Fernandez in the match. He added that they valued Fernandez's qualities and would wait for further developments before making any decisions. The club is also exploring the possibility of selling Alex Scott, a midfielder, to Bournemouth, with a potential bid of £80 million or more.

However, Alonso was cautious about discussing whether selling Fernandez would depend on finding a suitable replacement, stating that each situation needs to be assessed individually.