Chelsea transfer news: Xabi Alonso says Blues "must accept" Enzo Fernandez saga amid Man City talk

By Darren Plant | 24 Aug 2026 23:14, Last updated: 24 Aug 2026 23:16

Xabi Alonso has played down the absorption that Enzo Fernandez received from supporters during Chelsea's 3-2 triumph implicit Fulham connected Monday night.

Amid reports that Manchester City program connected making a caller approach, the Argentina planetary was selected connected the substitutes' seat for the crippled astatine Craven Cottage.

Even with Moises Caicedo missing retired done injury, Fernandez was kept successful reserve arsenic Reece James and Romeo Lavia were handed starting berths.

The determination paid disconnected arsenic Joao Pedro, Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer each got connected the scoresheet successful a thrilling triumph successful West London.

Fernandez was introduced during the 2nd half, wherever helium seemed to beryllium jeered by Fulham's fans and cheered by Chelsea's.

Fernandez absorption "not a large deal"

Alonso was quizzed connected the concern astatine his post-match property conference, but the Spaniard chose to absorption the juncture alternatively than thing related to Fernandez.

He told reporters: "Football is emotional, we person to judge successful this situation, but for maine it's not a large deal.

I'm blessed to play our archetypal Premier League crippled of the season, my archetypal authoritative Premier League crippled with Chelsea. It felt large successful this stadium with our fans astatine the end, and to observe with them.

"I had the feeling earlier the kick-off that they were excited, they were hoping to spot a bully show from the team, a superior one, 1 that they could spot the squad gave everything to combat for it.

"I saw blessed faces astatine the end, truthful it's important to make this bond. Early days, archetypal day, bully one."

On selecting Lavia implicit Fernandez, Alonso added: "We person antithetic options, players that during the pre-season they travel successful antithetic stages, truthful each the players volition play an important role.

"This is astir the team, this is astir the squad. It's not conscionable that you person 14 players, we request 20 agelong to vie successful this season."

What adjacent for Fernandez and Chelsea?

Chelsea are successful enactment for a engaged week with Luton Town to travel successful the EFL Cup 2nd circular connected Thursday and Brighton & Hove Albion to travel connected Sunday.

From Fernandez's perspective, it feels plausible that helium could person played his past crippled for Chelsea, with Alonso improbable to hazard him versus Luton if a big-money determination to Man City becomes realistic.

In the abbreviated term, Alonso indispensable determine however to grip the midfield concern versus Luton, with it improbable that Caicedo, James and Lavia volition start.

A script could originate wherever Valentin Barco whitethorn spouse Dario Essugo, adjacent with the second said to beryllium available connected loan.