Barcelona sporting director Deco phoned Chelsea last week to ask about Enzo Fernandez. The answer came back not from the club but from the player’s camp: Manchester or Madrid, but not Barcelona.

That framing, first reported by Simon Phillips and picked up across the transfer press, effectively closes Barcelona’s part in the story with five days of the window to run. Fernandez’s own preference, according to the reporting, is Manchester City or Real Madrid.

Neither has moved decisively. Chelsea imposed a self-set 5pm cut-off on Friday 14 August for Manchester City to bid at the £120m terms previously agreed with Fernandez’s representatives. City did not submit an offer, and Sky Sports reports those terms are no longer available at that price.

Alonso wants an answer this week

Xabi Alonso, in the Stamford Bridge job since 1 July, has spent most of August saying the same thing three different ways.

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“Enzo is a Chelsea player. He’s a top, top player. He’s training really well. We are happy with him and he’s getting ready for Monday,” he said before the Fulham opener on 24 August.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live earlier this week, he was more direct.

“My wish is that we know what will happen for the future but we will see this week,” Alonso told the broadcaster.

Ahead of the Carabao Cup tie at Luton Town on Thursday, the Spaniard confirmed Fernandez would feature.

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“Yes, so we expect that he’s involved. He has trained, he’s training really well, he’s a good professional and he will be involved.”

Maresca stays out of it

Enzo Maresca, who coached Fernandez at Chelsea last season before taking over at Manchester City on 29 June, declined to be drawn on the pursuit of his former player.

“He is a player from another club and I don’t think it’s correct to talk about other players,” Maresca said.

City are still expected to test Chelsea before the deadline, having already spent £116m on Elliot Anderson and short of central-midfield options after summer sales.

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The Premier League window closes at 11pm local time on Tuesday 1 September, with a two-hour grace period for paperwork on deals filed on time. Fernandez is expected in the Chelsea matchday squad at Luton Town on Thursday evening.

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