Chelsea are pursuing a deal for Argentina World Cup hero Enzo Fernandez as the January transfer window officially opens. The Blues are in the market for a new midfielder having not signed one permanently since paying Real Madrid £40million for Mateo Kovacic’s services following a loan in 2018.
Jorginho and N’Golo Kante are both out of contract at the end of the season and the latter hasn’t played due to injury since August. As Potter looks to revamp his side with energetic young players there is a push across the squad for new recruits with midfield being the first port of call.
Alongside Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham as main targets in 2023 there is Edson Alvarez from Ajax too. A new name has been added to the list after the Qatar World Cup though; Enzo Fernandez.
The 21-year-old Benfica star was victorious with his country over the winter and has now attracted the attention of some of the top clubs across Europe, including Chelsea.
Benfica have ‘opened the door’ to the transfer and expect a ‘total agreement’ to be reached in the first week of January.
Roger Schmidt admission
Following the decision to start Enzo Fernandez in Benfica’s league return against Braga, a game which they lost 3-0, manager Roger Schmidt has delivered a honest verdict on the future of the 21-year-old.
“I don’t know if this was Enzo’s last match,” he admitted to SLBenfica. “He’s been a great player since he arrived at Benfica. Sometimes in football things happen and players have to make a decision. Let’s see what happens next week.”
Benfica statement
Benfica have released an official statement on claims that club president Rui Costa held an interview with DAZN in which they would be willing to let midfielder Enzo Fernandez leave the club. “We insist saying that our intention is to keep Enzo here until the end of the season,” the official statement read.
“Benfica clarify that our president Rui Costs never spoke to DAZN about the situation of Enzo Fernandez.”
Benfica playing hardball
Benfica aren’t willing to let Fernandez go without a fight and have reportedly tried to convince their star to remain in Portugal until the end of the season. It’s also said that Chelsea’s struggles this season have been used as a way to put him off joining them in January.
The offer of a new deal, an extra bonus and increasing the release clause by £70million have all been discussed too, though it is thought he would be able to leave in the summer for less than the new price regardless.
Willing to pay release clause
Chelsea are reportedly prepared to pay a huge £105million to get Fernandez from Benfica, meeting his release clause in a bid to sign him ahead of the competition, the Evening Standard say.
Elsewhere, Simon Phillips writes that the money wouldn’t stop Declan Rice from being pursued as it would be instead of attempting a January deal for Josko Gvardiol.
