🚨 MAJOR BREAKING: Chelsea once asked for Rayan Cherki in the Enzo Fernández deal — plus £20m! 😳💥
One of the most sensational deals of the 2026 summer transfer window could have played out very differently.
Before Enzo Fernández officially moved from Chelsea to Manchester City, reports emerged that Chelsea was considering an incredibly bold proposal:
Rayan Cherki plus £20 million in exchange for Enzo Fernández. 💰🔥
According to circulating reports, Chelsea was prepared to let Enzo leave Stamford Bridge if Manchester City agreed to include Cherki in the deal and pay an additional £20 million.
Notably, at the time, Manchester City had not yet agreed to this demand.
And looking back at what happened next…
The story becomes even more intriguing.
👀 JUST HOW MUCH DID CHELSEA WANT CHERKI?
Rayan Cherki is no ordinary player.
The French midfielder is regarded as one of the most technically gifted attacking talents of his generation.
Dribbling ability.
Vision.
Chance creation.
And, above all, creativity in the final third.
That is precisely why Chelsea’s reported desire to acquire Cherki as part of the Enzo deal sparked immediate debate among fans.
If Chelsea were to lose a midfielder worth hundreds of millions of pounds…
They wanted a talent in return who could become the focal point of the team for years to come.
🔵 BUT CITY DIDN’T WANT TO LOSE CHERKI?
This is the most fascinating part.
Rayan Cherki is increasingly proving his worth at Manchester City.
In the 4-1 victory over Crystal Palace, Cherki scored twice and displayed a game-changing ability that left City fans absolutely thrilled.
In fact, the latest analyses even suggest that Cherki could become one of City’s most important players in the future.
Consequently, whether City actually wanted to include him in a swap deal remained a major question.
💰 SO, WHAT DID CITY ULTIMATELY DECIDE?
Instead of sending Cherki to Chelsea, Manchester City ultimately completed the signing of Enzo Fernández for a reported fee of around £125 million.
Enzo signed a long-term contract with City and became part of the club’s plans to rebuild its midfield.
That means City managed to keep Cherki…
and still bring Enzo to the Etihad.
An almost perfect scenario for the Manchester club.
🤯 IMAGINE IF THE ORIGINAL DEAL HAD GONE THROUGH
Just picture it:
Chelsea: Enzo Fernández ➡️ Manchester City
Manchester City: Rayan Cherki ➡️ Chelsea
£20 million ➡️ Chelsea
If that deal had materialized, Chelsea would have secured Cherki plus cash, while City would have landed Enzo but parted ways with one of their brightest talents.
But in the end, City chose a different path.
And now, both Enzo and Cherki are in the Manchester City squad. 😳🔥
🔥 WHAT DOES ENZO BRING TO CITY?
Enzo’s arrival comes as City restructures their midfield.
Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gündogan, Bernardo Silva, and Rodri have all left the Etihad in recent seasons, forcing Pep Guardiola and the City board to seek new personnel to build a completely different midfield.
Enzo brings the ability to dictate play, pass effectively, and control the tempo of the match.
Meanwhile, Cherki offers exactly what City needs in the attacking third:
creativity and the ability to produce moments of magic.
The two players can complement each other in very different ways.
🏆 CITY IS BUILDING A NEW SQUAD
It’s not just about Enzo.
Manchester City is undergoing a massive transformation.
Old faces are leaving.
New stars are arriving.
And Enzo Fernández is one of the most crucial pieces of that plan.
As for Rayan Cherki?
He is showing exactly why City didn’t want to let the French talent go easily.
His two goals against Crystal Palace were just a reminder. Cherki might not be a mere “trade chip.”
He could well be a key part of Manchester City’s future.
🚨 AND THAT’S WHAT MAKES THIS STORY SPECIAL
Chelsea once wanted Cherki.
City wanted Enzo.
A swap deal was reportedly on the table.
But in the end…
Chelsea took the cash.
City kept Cherki.
And Enzo still ended up in Manchester.
The deal was ultimately completed for a fee of around £125 million, rather than the “Cherki plus £20 million” scenario that had previously circulated.
Now, the question is no longer:
“Will Cherki be used in a swap deal for Enzo?”
But rather:
“How will Enzo and Cherki team up to take Manchester City back to the top?” 👀💙
One thing is certain:
This transfer window has significantly transformed Manchester City.
And the battle for the Premier League this season has only just begun. 🔥🏆
