Xabi Alonso expects Enzo Fernandez to be involved in Chelsea’s Carabao Cup tie against Luton Town on Thursday amid speculation that Manchester City will make a late attempt to sign the midfielder this summer.
The £120m-rated Argentinian has been linked with an exit from Stamford Bridge all summer with City interested, and while Enzo Maresca’s side missed an informal deadline set by the Blues, they are expected to make another bid before the deadline on 1 September.
Fernandez featured off the bench for Chelsea in their Premier League opener against Fulham on Monday and Alonso is preparing to utilise the 25-year-old against League One outfit Luton.
“Yes, so we expect that he's involved,” Alonso said.
“He has trained, he's training really well, he's a good professional and he will be involved.”
While being hounded by Fulham fans for his role in the Argentina’s World Cup semi-final win over England, Fernandez received a comparatively warm reception from Chelsea supporters when he came on at Craven Cottage, having been previously booed during a friendly at Stamford Bridge.
Asked whether he would like to keep Fernandez, Alonso added: “We want to have the best team possible. We know his qualities. He has shown it and we have to wait, but we will think about tomorrow and let's see how things develop.”
The Independent understands Chelsea are preparing to go back to Bournemouth for midfielder Alex Scott. The Cherries have so far shut down any interest, but there's a belief a bid in excess of £80m, and probably closer to £90m, might bring reconsideration.
However, Alonso would not be drawn on whether selling Fernandez would depend on whether the club can land a replacement.
“It is always about understanding the context, the situation, timings, circumstances, so there is not a defined rule for everything,” he said.
“You need to know how things have worked, what you want, what you want for the future, so I don't have the rules in stone. We need to assess each situation.”
