The night before the transfer window shut, it seemed it would close with Enzo Fernandez still at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea were asking for £135m. It was more than Manchester City were prepared to pay. It took negotiations on 1 September to bring the price down to £125m, still a joint British transfer record and a deal that took the amount committed to buying players either to or from City this summer to around three quarters of a billion.
Had Chelsea not reduced their demands – which may be seen as an indication of their willingness to get rid of Fernandez, especially when their attempt to replace him with Monaco’s Lamine Camara broke down – City might not have signed a third midfielder.
