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‘Nobody wants you!’ - Chelsea legend urges Enzo Fernandez to leave Stamford Bridge at once amid Manchester City links

Former Chelsea defender Frank Leboeuf believes Enzo Fernandez should leave Stamford Bridge before the transfer window shuts. The 2022 World Cup-winning midfielder has been linked with Manchester City, while Blues manager Xabi Alonso has omitted him from recent matchday squads as talks continue ahead of Tuesday’s deadline.

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Enzo left out as Manchester City step up interest

The 25-year-old Argentina international was excluded from Alonso’s matchday squad for a second straight match in the Blues’ 4-3 defeat to Brighton, after also missing the midweek Carabao Cup fixture against Luton.

According to The Athletic, Manchester City are now concentrating fully on signing Fernandez after Liverpool turned down an £80 million bid for Cody Gakpo, with the midfielder said to have already agreed personal terms with Enzo Maresca’s side. Chelsea are valuing the World Cup winner at more than £120m and are also actively chasing Monaco’s Lamine Camara as a possible replacement.

Leboeuf tells Enzo ‘it’s time to go’

Leboeuf has said that selling Fernandez would be the best outcome for all parties. Speaking to ESPN, the 1998 World Cup winner called on Chelsea to allow the player to leave straight away.

“Enzo Fernandez, I think he’s gone,” Leboeuf said. “We have the case with Julian Alvarez. A club can fight and try to keep a player but if the player wants to go, he has to go because there is no way that he would be fully fit, fully fit also psychologically, to give 100 per cent.

“I think nobody wants Enzo Fernandez to stay. It’s time for him to go because he decided to go because he showed last season because of his comment that he wants to leave. So, bye-bye. Good luck.”

Leboeuf also spoke about goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, who was dropped after costly mistakes against Fulham, with new signing Emiliano Martinez coming into the side. “Everybody made a statement about Robert Sanchez after what happened in the last game that he played and the goal he conceded,” Leboeuf added. “It was kind of an emergency and it’s why Emiliano Martinez signed. He signed in the morning and played in the afternoon.

“It’s only fair, that’s what it is. We play in a world of competition, and you have to accept that competition. It’s been a while since we warned everybody about Robert Sanchez’s consistency and that’s why they made that choice and very quickly.” The Spanish goalkeeper is now being strongly linked with Cesc Fabregas’ Como.

Alonso prepares for every possibility

Alonso admitted Fernandez could leave before Tuesday’s transfer deadline, saying squad selection calls have been taken with the club’s best interests in mind.

“We want the best for the team and that’s why we made the decision [to leave Fernandez out] against Luton and today,” Alonso told reporters after the Brighton win. “Anything that happens before Tuesday evening, we need to be aware of what is going to develop. We are not sure, we are preparing for all the scenarios.”

Alonso also expressed confidence in the depth of his squad despite the late transfer uncertainty, saying: “I am sure that whatever happens from Wednesday we will have a good enough squad to compete in all the Premier League games.”

High-stakes clash with Arsenal looms

With fewer than 24 hours left in the summer transfer window, Chelsea are facing a hectic final push to complete outgoing deals and bring in Camara as a replacement. The Blues need to sort out the futures of Fernandez and Sanchez quickly as they get ready to travel to title favourites and reigning champions Arsenal next Sunday.