Enzo Fernandez Left Out of Chelsea Squad as Manchester City Interest Intensifies

Enzo Fernandez was left out of Chelsea's Carabao Cup squad for Thursday's tie against Luton Town, adding fuel to Manchester City's long-running interest as the transfer deadline approaches.

The decision came as a surprise after head coach Xabi Alonso had said a day earlier that he expected the Argentine to be involved. "We assessed situations, individual and collective, and we have decided he is not in the squad for today," Alonso told Sky Sports before kick-off. Fernandez had featured off the bench in Chelsea's Premier League opener at Fulham.

City missed an informal deadline earlier this month to bid for the World Cup winner but are now expected to return with a formal offer before the window closes on September 1. Chelsea are holding out for a fee in the region of £120 million, which would make Fernandez City's record signing, surpassing the fee paid for Elliot Anderson this summer as part of a midfield rebuild that has already cost the club close to £200 million.

Fernandez has six years left on his Chelsea contract but has been repeatedly linked with a move away, having previously admitted he would welcome living in Madrid. Chelsea are reportedly prepared to move for Bournemouth's Alex Scott as a replacement should the Argentine depart.