Chelsea are prepared to sell Enzo Fernandez to Manchester City for the right price - and if they can improve their squad before the window closes.
There are not believed to have been any club-to-club talks between City and Chelsea yet, but Fernandez was left out of Thursday night's Carabao Cup win over Luton.
Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso said after the game that Fernandez is a "good professional" who has been training well, and a decision on whether he will be available for Sunday's clash with Brighton will be taken nearer the time.
Man City's interest continues despite missing Chelsea's August 14 deadline to bid for Fernandez.
Chelsea had agreed with Fernandez's representatives he could be sold for £120m by that deadline but an offer never arrived.
Alonso also said ahead of the Luton game they are "prepared for whatever" happens with any players who could leave before the deadline.
Among the players Chelsea are considering to bring in midfield are Bournemouth's Alex Scott and Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton. Both clubs consider those players unsellable, however.
City also have Scott as a midfield target as well as Roma's Manu Kone.
Reinforcing central midfield has become an even bigger priority for City following Rodri's departure to Barcelona earlier this month.
Nico Gonzalez has also left to join Newcastle in a deal worth up to £50m
City this week completed the signing of Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille with the midfielder moving to the Etihad Stadium for £86m in a world-record deal for a teenager.
Chelsea agree deal to sign Villa 'keeper Martinez
Chelsea have agreed a deal worth £7.5m with Aston Villa to sign Emi Martinez.
Sky Sports News reported Chelsea were considering a late move for Martinez after current No 1 Robert Sanchez came under criticism after his error in Monday's win at Fulham.
Martinez has needed to find a new club after Villa signed Zion Suzuki from Parma for nearly £30m.
He was the subject of interest from Juventus but they chose to sign Guglielmo Vicario from Spurs.
Question marks will now be raised over whether both Sanchez and Mike Penders will remain at Stamford Bridge for the season.
Penders started Chelsea's Carabao Cup tie with Luton on Thursday night, after Sanchez started v Fulham.
Mewikmtuz
0
140m or nothing please
no thank you
tizabdruy
1
140m or nothing please
Razbiotuy
0
keep penders and selling sanhez before the deadline day please
Humblecrown
1
We shall get it right 🫱
Razbiotuy
0
Chelsea should buy alex Scott and Warton before Enzo go please
nopaciptuz
0
120 mn or nothing
lenbcdilrs
0
get him
Suarezzy
0
Chelsea atletico Madrid brother 😂 prison FC
Diueknpu
0
Chelsea doing ATM things😅😂😂
paoabiouz
0
Just 80 Million Player
paoabiouz
0
🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡
Haseloru
0
barco is still young
Noble1
2
I would have said Chelsea should go for the Roma midfielder Manu Kone, he will be an easier option, but he is destroyer like Caceido, so we need a different profile of player. Alex Scott tops the list for me. But I don't know if Bournemouth will agree to sell this close to the end of the transfer window.
lehaceiotz
0
Enzo Fernandez is going no where..not this season..
Daybdilorz
0
you are just mad that he is going
dizakoprsz
0
It will reach on the final day then boom Chelsea will delay the document which will make the deal impossible to happen we all understood Chelsea are willing to sell Enzo but not to Man City or EPL teams. Mark my words 🙌
I laugh you.
Diddeimny
1
let him go
wumbiloruz
0
Lat him Go ......after all is not Lampard or Ngolo Kante ungrateful player 🙃
Xaviøur46
2
It will reach on the final day then boom Chelsea will delay the document which will make the deal impossible to happen we all understood Chelsea are willing to sell Enzo but not to Man City or EPL teams. Mark my words 🙌
VIKINGSB
2
Please can this deal just happen already so Chelsea could get his replacement on time?.
Kazmed
2
Have to say bye bye oo we will never miss him 💯we have barco a player like fabregas, Enzo is never anything close to fabregas.