Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso has confirmed that midfielder Enzo Fernandez is likely to leave the club before the close of the summer transfer window, with Manchester City leading the pursuit for the Argentina international. Fernandez, who has expressed a strong desire to join City, was omitted from Chelsea’s squad for their recent Premier League victory over Brighton.

Manchester City is reportedly prepared to make a £130 million offer for Fernandez, potentially setting a new British transfer record. Alonso indicated that the decision to exclude the midfielder from recent matches was made with the team’s best interests in mind, suggesting the transfer is imminent.

“We made the decision against Luton and today [Brighton] because it was best for the team,” Alonso said. “We are preparing for all scenarios, but I am confident that by the start of next week we will have a squad capable of competing in all Premier League fixtures.”

Chelsea also face uncertainty around the future of Portuguese winger Pedro Neto. While Neto has attracted interest from clubs including Liverpool, Alonso acknowledged that the player’s status remains in flux. Neto, who has been deployed in a wing-back role, performed strongly in the recent match against Brighton.

“I cannot guarantee anything in football,” Alonso said when asked if Neto would remain at the club. “But I was very happy with Pedro’s performance. He played with a lot of energy and has important qualities. He’s a threat one-on-one, attacks well in space, and is physically strong.”

Amid these potential departures, Chelsea are expected to pursue reinforcements before the transfer deadline on Tuesday evening. Reports have linked them with Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara, suggesting the club aims to bolster their squad ahead of the new campaign.

Alonso emphasized the club’s commitment to securing the best outcome for the team during this period of transition and expressed confidence in maintaining a competitive squad despite the ongoing transfer activity.