The Enzo Fernandez saga has rumbled on — but it might finally be concluding.On Wednesday, The Athletic reported that Chelsea have set a deadline of 5pm on Friday (12pm ET) for Manchester City to make an offer for the Argentina international.Chelsea have now made it clear that if City — or another club — do not meet their £120million ($16m) valuation of Fernandez by the deadline, he will not be leaving the club this summer.But why have Chelsea put this into the public domain? Will City make a bid? Do Chelsea have ways to replace him? Do City really need him?The Athletic has put a series of the key questions to Chelsea reporter Simon Johnson and City reporter Sam Lee. Their answers are below.Why have Chelsea felt the need to put this out?Simon Johnson: Chelsea’s first game of the new season is under two weeks away, and understandably they do not want this saga dragging on for the rest of the month, therefore providing a big distraction.The club have been clear with their valuation of Fernandez from the get-go, so the message is quite simple: pay up or don’t. They also do not want to be scrambling late in the window for a replacement.New manager Xabi Alonso has spoken to Fernandez since taking over and is happy to have him in his plans. Chelsea are also prepared to welcome him back into the fold after the events near the end of last season, which included handing him a two-game ban for comments made in interviews about club decisions as well as appearing to flirt with Real Madrid.Chelsea believe he can thrive under Alonso’s direction and want the circus around his future to end.Given the price Manchester City paid for Anderson (£116m) and Tottenham’s £100m on Sandro Tonali, charging £120m for a World Cup winner will seem justified to those at Stamford Bridge.Xabi Alonso has spoken to Enzo Fernandez (Peksi Cahyo/Getty Images)Does it feel like City will make a bid of £120m?Sam Lee: An overall price of £120m feels very steep, and it is much easier to imagine them trying to bring the price down. However, they are very keen to sign him and have been all summer.City are determined to back Enzo Maresca this summer, and that includes the desire to sign Fernandez. City will be trying to find out whether Chelsea’s stance is not quite as firm in private as it is in public, even if their decision to set a public price and deadline implies otherwise.Is it only City who have been pursuing the midfielder?Simon Johnson: No, other Champions League clubs hold an interest. But there are not many in the game that can afford a fee like this, which is part of the problem if Fernandez has his heart set on a move elsewhere. It should be stressed the 25-year-old has never specifically said in an interview that he wants out.