Man City consider Enzo Fernandez move after Chelsea star branded an ‘imbecile’ for post-match antics

Manchester City are weighing up a move for Enzo Fernandez this summer, talkSPORT understands.

The Premier League leaders are planning to sign a new midfielder ahead of next season.

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Fernandez is an option being considered by City and could yet move up their shortlist.

The Chelsea star would become a more likely arrival if Enzo Maresca were to succeed Pep Guardiola in the dugout.

It comes after the pair worked together at Stamford Bridge during the Italian’s time in charge and Fernandez questioned the club’s decision to sack him.

However, City’s top midfield target is currently Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson.

They face a battle with rivals Manchester United for the England international, though.

As for Fernandez, the World Cup winner has made no secret of his desire to join Real Madrid.

With the Spanish giants yet to launch an approach, he has turned his attention to other Champions League clubs.

His agent Javier Pastore is now exploring potential options, with a Chelsea exit not discounted.

The Blues want Fernandez to commit to a new deal in west London and will not sell the 25-year-old for a loss.

Fernandez, who has six years remaining on his contract, was signed from Benfica for a then British record £106.8million in 2023.

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During his time with the club, he has won both the Conference League and Club World Cup.

In 163 Chelsea appearances, Fernandez has scored 28 goals and added 29 assists.

Fernandez branded an ‘imbecile’

Fernandez has often seen his attitude questioned during his time at Chelsea amid a number of disciplinary issues.

Tuesday’s defeat to Brighton was just his second appearance since a two-match ban imposed by sacked manager Liam Rosenior.

The ex-Blues boss had banished his vice-captain following his comments on links to Real Madrid.

Having returned to the side, acting captain Fernandez appeared to stare down the travelling fans after Chelsea’s latest loss in a bizarre incident.

talkSPORT’s Simon Jordan and Danny Murphy reacted to the altercation during Wednesday’s White & Jordan.

Murphy responded by admitting: “It would be wrong to be categorical about what he’s doing because only he can say, but it can only be one of two things.

“It came across to me as a little bit arrogant and self-indulgent, that type of staring at them as if to say, ‘give us something’.

“Rather than maybe saying sorry, hand on your badge and just, ‘sorry, it’s on us,’ type thing.

“There was no gestures. It didn’t feel like an apology and it should have been.”

Jordan was equally unimpressed, adding: “I watched it, and I thought to myself, ‘what are you doing?’

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“I think Danny would be very generous in the assessment, I think he said it himself, to suggest that he was standing there wanting to take all of that vitriol from the fans on his shoulders.

“I think it was a defiant look about what the team looks like, who he’s playing for and the circumstances in which he’s found himself in, probably in the last couple of weeks.

“I don’t know why he felt that there was anything in it. I looked at it and thought, ‘you’re an imbecile.’

“You have no reading of the room. You’re in this bubble now where players seem to believe that they’re immune from the ramifications of their contributions to an equation.

“When it comes down to it, put Rosenior to one side, the players were poor, it’s upon them to be better.”

Rosenior was sacked on Wednesday following the defeat, with Calum McFarlane taking charge until the end of the season as interim boss.