Benfica REJECT Chelsea’s opening bid for Enzo Fernandez
Benfica have rejected Chelsea’s first offer for Argentina’s World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez.
The Blues were willing to pay the Portuguese side £112million for the 21-year-old midfielder – more than the player’s £106m release clause.
However, Benfica want the full release clause to be paid up front, instead of Chelsea’s proposal where they would pay £37.3m over three years in order to evade financial fair play restrictions.
Benfica are reluctant to sell following the midfielder’s exploits for his country at the World Cup in Qatar.
Fernandez returned to training at Benfica on Tuesday to tell manager Roger Schmidt of his desire to join Chelsea.
The Blues though are threatening to move onto other targets if they can’t agree on the scale and restructure of instalments.
If he did make the move to Stamford Bridge, it would make him the most expensive signing in Premier League history – surpassing Jack Grealish’s transfer to Man City.
The Portuguese side have spoken to Feyenoord about signing midfielder Orkun Kocku as a possible replacement.
The 21-year-old had already angered his club by defying orders not to fly back to Argentina, and has also infuriated supporters by going home to celebrate New Year’s Eve and missing two training sessions.
He opted to fly to Buenos Aires following the Braga game to spend the New Year with his family, despite not receiving permission from the club.
The Blues have already sealed the signing of Molde striker Datro Fofana while Christopher Nkunku and Andrey Santos are close to being completed.
