11 Aug 2026 22:21:07
I’m not I understand this correctly, but it would appear that City do have an interest in signing EF. Apparently we have set a fee (£120m) and a deadline date for any agreement. This makes sense to me and I have followed my mate and backed us to sign Wharton. It’s only a bit of fun!
12 Aug 2026 10:27:51
Will hope we can keep him, and would hate us to strengthen that snake Maresca's City... or Arsenal. Ef may leave in next season or two - and quite understandably if we fail to get Champions League football again - but hopefully to one of the Madrid teams or PSG, if so.
Still, if City come up with the 120 million, I will assume the club will sell and replace him with a Scott or Wharton. Would certainly hope the club would not cave in for anything less.
Neither S nor W nearly as good as Ef imho, though I would have to hope they could offer something usefully different, i.e. perhaps defensively and/or in terms of pace - if this happened. But I would hate that we were settling for selling several of our best players from last season and hampering our chances of qualifying for Ecl football this season.
12 Aug 2026 10:55:59
Jbs, let's not forget what EF said about wanting to leave albeit to RM.
12 Aug 2026 14:00:47
I don't forget this, Tom, or that he may not be a poster boy for good behaviour, but am probably, like you, more concerned with Chelsea having and retaining the best players it can. But you may well be suggesting that he may have wanted to leave for some time, and that hasn't changed, and the club has always let such players leave, and Alonso may not have convinced EF to change his mind.
12 Aug 2026 15:11:06
I think my preference would be Scott over Wharton, but, having said that, I've not seen either of them a lot.
12 Aug 2026 15:13:53
JBS, I am indeed suggesting that. I'm sure if we offered him a lucrative contract extension he would show his love for Chelsea. I'm sure that if City offer enough, the club will sell and will be paid a lot more money than he earns with us.
If City offer £120m plus, that would probably show a book profit of £50-£70m.
I can't see us turning it down.
Player-wise, most posters will know how highly I rate him, but if he wants to go, then goodbye. Also, I agree with the club's supposed stance: if they don't pay the full amount by a certain date, he stays, with the fee increasing as the clock ticks.
12 Aug 2026 16:28:55
You are probably right, Tom, but reckon it considerably weakens us - as did losing Cucurella - and strengthens a direct rival. Scott or Wharton are not at Ef level. We would have lost two top players for us in their prime. This is the result of owner and SD stupidity, and Maresca's treachery not getting us Champions League football last season.
We can only hope Alonso is a special one, but he may not quite have the quality, experience, or strength in depth in the squad that Mourinho enjoyed. So Xa may have to be extra special!
Just when, if ever, will the charges against City lead to any punishment?
12 Aug 2026 16:40:17
JBS, let's reflect a little. Cucarella wanted (for family reasons) to go back to Spain. Fernandez expressed his desire to leave with about 10/12 games to go of the season and while still vice captain.
Both players, having declared they want to leave, albeit for different reasons, hardly seem to be the fault of the SDs or owners.
I have made my views on Maresca well known in previous posts. As far as City are concerned, it continues to be a disgrace that the verdict has not been made public.
12 Aug 2026 17:10:15
Tom, perhaps Cucurella missing family, plus the temptation of playing Champions League football for Real Madrid midweek, was amplified by having no Champions League football with us, though I agree he was likely to leave anyway.
Enzo tempted to Spain for the same reasons, bar the family ones.
The fact that Enzo F will strengthen City if he goes there is grating.
Still too early to know quite how to rate our chances this coming season.
13 Aug 2026 02:32:07
Personally, will be extremely happy to see the back of Enzo and even more excited if he makes his way to Citeh for the reported 120m. Quickest way to destroy the culture of Pep is to bring in the two Enzos who have shown no loyalty or respect anywhere they've been.