According to The Athletic, Chelsea's deadline for Enzo's transfer is to avoid the transfer saga dragging on until the end of the month, while Manchester City have other options.

The tug-of-war over Enzo's transfer continues, but a resolution may be near.

The Athletic reported that Chelsea on Wednesday demanded Manchester City make an offer for the Argentina international by 5 PM BST on Friday.

Chelsea has made it clear that if Manchester City, or any other club, fails to meet their £120 million valuation of Enzo before the deadline, he will not leave this summer.

But why would Chelsea make this public? Will Manchester City bid? Does Chelsea have a replacement? Does Manchester City really need him?

The Athletic posed these questions to Chelsea correspondent Simon Johnson and Manchester City correspondent Sam Lee, and here are their answers.

Why did Chelsea feel the need to make this public?

Simon Johnson: With Chelsea's new season opener less than two weeks away, they clearly don't want this transfer saga to drag on for the rest of the month, causing significant disruption to the team.

From the outset, Chelsea has been clear about their valuation of Enzo, so their message is simple: either pay the price, or don't bother. Chelsea also doesn't want to scramble for a replacement late in the transfer window.

New coach Alonso has already spoken with Enzo and is willing to include him in his plans. Chelsea is also prepared to welcome him back to the team after the turmoil at the end of last season, during which he was banned for two games for discussing club decisions in an interview and showed signs of contact with Real Madrid.

Chelsea believes he can perform under Alonso's leadership and hopes that this saga surrounding his future will end soon.

Considering Manchester City paid £116 million for Elliot Anderson and Tottenham spent £100 million on Tonali, Chelsea believes that a £120 million asking price for a World Cup winner is reasonable.

Will Manchester City actually pay £120 million?

Sam Lee: The £120 million asking price is indeed very high, and it's easier to imagine them trying to push the price down. However, Manchester City have been very keen to sign him all summer.

Manchester City is determined to support Enzo Maresca this summer, and this includes wanting to sign Enzo. Manchester City will test whether Chelsea's private stance is not as firm as their public one, although their public pricing and deadline speak volumes.

Is Manchester City the only club pursuing this midfielder?

Simon Johnson said: No, there are other Champions League clubs interested in him. However, not many teams can afford such a transfer fee, which is a problem Enzo would face if he were determined to go elsewhere. It's important to note that the 25-year-old has never explicitly stated in an interview that he wants to leave.

His previous remarks about wanting to live in Madrid one day sparked a lot of speculation. Real Madrid issued a rare statement earlier this month, insisting they had not listed him as a transfer target.

If Enzo is not on the list, does Manchester City have other midfield options?

Sam Lee said: I'm sure they have other options, but Enzo is definitely the first choice.

If this deal doesn't go through, they'll have to assess whether others are equally suitable and worth splurging on.

Why has Enzo suddenly become a Manchester City option again?

Sam Lee said: They had already listed him as one of their top targets before the end of last season.

This push came relatively late, possibly because Rodri and Reijnders were close to leaving at one point, and Manchester City took some time to get the situation to this point.

Does Chelsea have a replacement if needed?

Simon Johnson said: Alonso can currently call upon six other midfielders: Caicedo, Lavia, Essugo, Jordan Henderson, Valentín Barco, and captain Reece James. The young players are still in the early stages of their development, but the Chelsea manager was impressed with 16-year-olds Nicole Azzuri and Reggie Watson during the pre-season tour.

It should also be noted that Chelsea earlier in this window bid £64 million for Bournemouth's Alex Scott, but it was rejected, which indicates there are other names on their transfer list.

Clubs usually have a long list of candidates for short-term and long-term goals.

However, at this stage of the transfer window, it's not easy to acquire the desired players. Sellers will also know that if Enzo leaves, Chelsea will have an additional £120 million, which means they are likely to raise their prices accordingly.

Which is better for Chelsea, if he leaves or stays?

Simon Johnson said: You could say it's a win-win situation for Chelsea, as they either keep Enzo or have an additional £120 million, but it's best to keep him in the team.

It's better for Enzo to stay. Last season, only João Pedro (20 years old) scored more goals for Chelsea with 15, and he achieved this from a deeper position.

Yes, he still has some areas for improvement, especially discipline and those unnecessary yellow cards for protesting decisions.

Some fans, after seeing his words and actions this year, might not mind him leaving. But Enzo is indeed difficult to replace.

Working with Alonso, a former world-class midfielder, will certainly elevate his game further. Enzo plays with a bit of bite, and if used correctly, that's exactly what's needed to compete for major titles.

Opposing fans will likely boo him because he caused England to lose to Argentina at the World Cup, where he was perhaps one of the best players on the field. But this is more likely to inspire him than to shake his confidence.

Does Manchester City need him?

Sam Lee said: This question is already controversial among fans!

Perhaps one misconception is seeing him as a replacement for Rodri, but that's not his style of play.

Personally, I think he's a top player with a slightly different role. Although he's not the strongest out of possession, I believe he has some valuable, unquantifiable qualities. I think he's the kind of player who can step up in crucial moments and bring incredible intensity.

If his era is completely different from Bernardo Silva and Rodri, and seems far less stable, a midfield of Enzo and Elliot Anderson would at least be very exciting to watch.

In short, I think Manchester City needs him.

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