Chelsea and Manchester City Join Late Bid for Barcelona’s Dro Fernandez
While Paris Saint-Germain seems poised to finalize the acquisition of Barcelona midfielder Dro Fernandez, Chelsea and Manchester City have made a late effort to change the course of the negotiations. According to Marc Mechenoua, both Premier League clubs have intensified their outreach in recent days, despite PSG’s established favoritism in the race for the young talent.
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The 18-year-old Fernandez has made five appearances for Barcelona this season, including one match in the UEFA Champions League. An agreement seems to be in place for him to join Paris Saint-Germain this month, with progress being made towards completion, as noted by Fabrizio Romano.
PSG’s Advantage Grows with Strategic Clause Payment
PSG is reportedly set to pay just above the €6 million release clause to “preserve their relationship with the Catalan club,” a strategy that has characterized their recent transactions and indicates a position of confidence.
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The expectation is that Fernandez has committed to the move, with the necessary agreements already in place, leaving only final formalities before his transition to Parc des Princes.
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Premier League Clubs Make Late Push
Despite this, Chelsea and Manchester City are making a last-minute effort. Mechenoua reports that both clubs have been “aggressive in recent days” in an attempt to sway Fernandez away from PSG, having made direct contact with the player’s representatives.
Borussia Dortmund has also submitted multiple offers, highlighting the competitive nature of this race; however, timing now seems crucial.
Analysis from EPL Index
For Chelsea, this seems more like opportunistic engagement rather than a strong expectation. Fans have witnessed the club intervene in deals late in the process before, sometimes with success, but there’s an understanding that player development pathways are important. If Fernandez is genuinely aligned with PSG’s project, Chelsea supporters would prefer moderation over aggressive acquisition.
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Manchester City fans will recognize a familiar approach. The club tends to monitor elite youth talent even in unlikely dealings, both to gather intelligence and to maintain credibility as contenders. There’s a sense that if City truly desired to dominate this race, action would have been taken sooner.
Ultimately, supporters of both Chelsea and City may not be overly concerned should PSG finalize this signing. Fernandez is viewed as a promising young talent, but both teams possess solid midfield depth and emerging prospects. This scenario appears to be more about strategic positioning than a lost chance, illustrating how elite clubs consistently test the limits of negotiations, even when outcomes seem to be predetermined.