Before 5 o'clock! Chelsea set deadline for Enzo Fernandez sale

Chelsea have reportedly issued an ultimatum to Manchester City regarding their pursuit of Enzo Fernández, setting a deadline of 5:00 PM on Friday to finalise a £120 million transfer.

The West London club are said to have informed Manchester City officials and the player's representatives that if an official bid matching their valuation is not submitted by the deadline, Fernández will remain at Stamford Bridge for the duration of the transfer window. 

The five-time Premier League champions are demanding exactly £120 million to sanction the departure, remaining entirely resolute on their asking price.

According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Manchester City have been in active dialogue with the player's camp for several days. 

However, Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso wants his squad completely finalised before the Premier League campaign begins, prompting the club's hierarchy to draw a definitive line.

The Friday deadline places pressure on Manchester City and is expected to force them to accelerate the impending departure of star midfielder Rodri. 

The Spanish international is linked with a return to LALIGA with Barcelona, and City must finalise that outgoing transfer to open up squad space for another elite midfielder. 

Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca, who previously coached Fernández during his tenure at Chelsea, is actively pushing to reunite with the Argentine.

However, executing the deal remains financially complicated, especially considering the English champions have already spent over £100 million on another midfield reinforcement earlier this summer.