Chelsea are now in direct talks with Benfica over the possibility of signing Enzo Fernandez in the January transfer window, confirms Fabrizio Romano. The Argentine midfielder has many major suitors after winning the World Cup and also clinching the Young Player of the Tournament award.
Chelsea in Talks With Benfica Over Enzo Fernandez
Chelsea are now in direct talks with Benfica for Enzo Fernández. Chelsea want to offer huge fee instead of paying release clause in one solution 🚨🔵 #CFC
Benfica always asked full €120m clause.
Understand Enzo already said yes to Chelsea.#LFC or #MUFC made no bid, as of now. pic.twitter.com/Kdvz5Eargi— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 30, 2022
Chelsea Trying Not to Pay Fernandez’s Release Clause
The major stumbling block over the deal to sign the 21-year-old in January is that the Portuguese club are not relenting in their demands for him. They will only sell him if any club is able to trigger his £106 million release clause.
Read More: Fabrizio Romano Confirms Andrey Santos Move to Chelsea
However, Romano claims that Chelsea will attempt to negotiate with Benfica, offering to pay a “huge fee” instead of the release clause. Fernandez has already agreed in principle to move.
Chelsea Ready to Blow Premier League Rivals Out of the Water in January
Chelsea are really not messing around when it comes to dominating the January transfer window. The Blues have already announced one signing, that of David Fofana from Molde for a relatively low fee. They’re also reportedly close to signing Andrey Santos in the winter window and are closing in on a new centre-back in AS Monaco defender Benoit Badiashile.
The Blues are aware that the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United are both interested in signing Fernandez, but are yet to make bids for him. This is why they are being especially quick with moving ahead with talks to sign the Argentine youngster. They want to sign a new defensive midfielder who can be a successor to both Jorginho and N’Golo Kante, who are past their best years.
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Fernandez had a wonderful World Cup campaign and was one of Argentina’s best players in the tournament. He scored one goal and provided an assist in the seven games he played, with his excellent work in the midfield impressing many. The 21-year-old is keen on making the jump to the Premier League, but it remains to be seen if Chelsea can get a deal done with Benfica.
