Chelsea prepare for new attempt to lure Enzo Fernandez as Benfica plan to resist move
Chelsea have prepared to tempt Benfica with new bid for Enzo Fernandez but it’s understood that the Portuguese side will resist the Premier League outfit’s second time advances on the Argentine International.
Fernandez emerged as the young best player in the ended Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup after helping Argentina to win their first World Cup since 1986 under Diego Maradona.
Fernandez was heavily linked though with the likes of Liverpool, Newcastle United and Manchester United but it was Chelsea that came close to signing the midfielder in this January transfer period.
After making several contacts with Enzo Fernandez’s club Benfica, Chelsea almost agreed on a fee for the 22-year old sensation but only a little far from accepting to pay Fernandez 120million Euros release clause with Graham Potter’s side only willing to pay a tittle above the clause but in installment- a move Benfica were not satisfied with.
After Chelsea unready to pay the full 120million Euros in an episode, the deal collapsed but there was a strong argument that the Blues were strategic that will see Benfica soften their stance by way of reducing the release cluase in last days of the January transfer window when the London side re-surface to sign Enzo Fernandez.
Sunday reports claim that Chelsea have reviewed their approach for Enzo Fernandez and are back in contention to lure the Argentine to Stamford Bridge, claimed football.london.
But Graham Potter’s side will suffer a heavy task if they are to land Enzo Fernandez in last minutes of the month’s window according to reports in Portugal.
Portuguese outlet Record claims that Benfica are expecting the Blues to make a late attempt to sign the Argentine and are looking for ways to fend off interest in the final days of transfer window. So much so that the report states that the Eagles have been trying to increase Fernandez’s release clause by €30million (£26m) to €150million- a development they anticipate to dent Chelsea’s energies for the player.
It’s also said that Benfica president Rui Costa has pledged a payment of €2million to the midfielder if he stays at the club until the end of the season. Earlier this month, head coach Roger Schmidt said he was confident that Fernandez will stay in Portugal until at least the summer.
But with the uncertainty surrounding N’Golo Kante and Jorginho’s future, Graham Potter and Todd Boehly have been forced to search for midfielders in the market with Fernandez still among the favourites the Stamford Bridge officials are willing to employ.
Fernandez himself is said to more than ready to join Chelsea this January or in the future. There is high chances that Chelsea could land Enzo Fernandez after signing more wide men, none has come from the central midfield department which they need to sign one or two before the closure of this January transfer window.
