Enzo LEFT OUT of Chelsea squad to face Brighton: Wantaway star dropped for second-straight match

Enzo Fernandez has been omitted from Chelsea's matchday squad for the second time in just four days, as speculation over his future at Stamford Bridge intensifies amid Manchester City's interest with transfer deadline day looming.

The 25-year-old is wanted by City before the transfer window closes on September 1 - with the Etihad outfit preparing a £100million bid, as reported by Daily Mail Sport. Even if that offer does come it is set to be rejected, with Chelsea wanting £120m.

And with Fernandez's future remaining uncertain, Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has opted not to include the midfielder for Sunday's Premier League clash at home to Brighton and Hove Albion.

Asked pre-match about his decision to not include the Argentina international, the Spaniard told Sky Sports: 'We think what is best for the team and the club. Sometimes we need to make tough calls; we don't know what will happen in the future.

'But today it was better that we have this squad, and in the future we don't know what is going to happen.'

Fernandez's exclusion comes days after he was dealt the same fate during Thursday's League Cup second-round 2-0 win over Luton Town.

In the build-up to that tie, which Chelsea won courtesy of Danny Welbeck and a Hakeem Odoffin own goal, Alonso insisted that Fernandez would be involved against their League One opponents.

However, when the team news came out on Thursday evening, Fernandez's name was nowhere to be seen in the 20-man squad.

Asked about Fernandez's absence from the squad against Luton, Alonso said pre-match: 'We assessed situations, individual and collective and we have decided he is not in the squad for today.'

However, speaking post-match the Spaniard was a lot more open, revealing that the decision was made by himself and the club hierarchy.

'It was a decision from myself and from the club,' Alonso said. 'We had other players that needed minutes and it was that way. It's a decision that I took. He's a good professional. He's training well. I have nothing to say about him.

'It was just a decision that we had to take, thinking about the game that we're playing tonight and we'll see for (Brighton on) Sunday.'

Speaking on Wednesday, Alonso was adamant to see his No 8 involved, saying: 'Yes, so we expect that he's involved.

'He's trained, he's training really well, he's a good professional and he will be involved.'

When pressed on whether he wants Fernandez to remain a Chelsea player after this window, Alonso added: 'We want to have the best team possible. We know his qualities. He has shown it. We have to wait, but we will think about tomorrow and let's see how things develop.

'We assess the whole squad as a unit and in that squad, we want good balance in terms of quality, in terms of positions, in terms of personalities, so we are aware of everything and we are prepared for whatever.'