Chelsea are set to seal the transfer of Enzo Fernandez from Benfica according to numerous reporters including Fabrizio Romano. The Benfica midfielder would reportedly smash the British transfer record and see Chelsea’s spending in 2022/23 top £500m.
Chelsea Step Up Attempts To Seal Enzo Fernandez Transfer
Benfica and Chelsea set to agree record transfer fee for Enzo Fernandez
• ~€130m offer compensates Benfica for payment by instalment
• Argentina midfielder missed training today as he pressed Lisbon club to reach a compromise dealhttps://t.co/GD4KiFofoF pic.twitter.com/TU2TWsChyl— Duncan Castles (@DuncanCastles) January 30, 2023
£114 Million Deal Offered to Convince Benfica
Benfica’s president Rui Costa has stuck valiantly to his policy of “release clause or nothing” all January, but according to Duncan Castles from The Times, Chelsea have offered a huge £114m package. This would overpay the release clause, but allow the English side to pay the huge sum in instalments, a far more financially sustainable and FFP-friendly strategy.
The Blues have already signed seven players in January, yet Fernandez would present the biggest deal of the lot, at a record-breaking fee.
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Renowned transfer journalist Romano has reported that Benfica’s board are holding an internal meeting as we speak. Club president Costa is involved and set to make the final decision on whether the huge bid is accepted. Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali have actively worked on the marquee transfer.
The Blues had previously been in the running for Arsenal target Moises Caicedo. Now their focus is now entirely on the Argentine midfielder, hoping to cap off an extraordinary January transfer window.
Enzo Fernandez Wants the Move
As reported by The Athletic, Graham Potter’s side have been searching for a successor to Jorginho, whose contract expires in June. Fernandez, who was selected as the best young player of the 2022 World Cup, will fulfil that role should the deal get over the line. River Plate would receive 25% of the fee, having included a sell-on clause when Fernandez joined Benfica in June.
Read More: Fabrizio Romano – Everton Submit £45 Million Bid for Chelsea Man
Duncan Castles reported that the midfielder missed training on Monday to pressure the board into accepting. Personal terms were said to have met “no issues” and the players’ entourage are waiting on the decision of the club’s ownership. Barring an extraordinary late turnaround, the 22-year-old looks set to be unveiled as a Chelsea player in the coming days.
