Scholes: Chelsea won't win EPL title after Enzo Fernandez sale to Man City

Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes said Chelsea have all but surrendered their Premier League title hopes after agreeing to sell midfielder Enzo Fernandez to Manchester City for £125 million on transfer deadline day. The fee makes Fernandez one of the joint‑most expensive players in PL history, surpassing his £107 million move from Benfica in 2023 where he quickly became a key Stamford Bridge figure despite earlier summer transfer wishes.

City pursued the deal despite missing Chelsea’s £120 million deadline last month, finally agreeing just hours before the window closed. Scholes, who initially was not impressed with Fernandez’s arrival in England, now calls him a brilliant player and a significant loss for Chelsea. He warned that without Fernandez, Chelsea cannot realistically challenge defending champions Arsenal, whom they face this weekend, especially after already fielding makeshift midfield options like Malo Gusto and Reece James.

Scholes added that City’s pursuit unsettled Fernandez and his prospective manager Enzo Maresca—formerly Chelsea’s coach—further destabilizing the Blues at a time when they were performing well. Maresca’s City are viewed as dark horses for the title, while Chelsea’s midfield depth looks thin.

Will Chelsea’s title challenge collapse without Fernandez, or can other players step up to fill the creative void left by the Argentine international?

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/09/03/epl-paul-scholes-names-club-thatll-no-longer-win-title-this-season/