Chelsea planning a new push to sign Benfica midfielder Enzo Fernandez
According to the Guardian, Chelsea are planning on a new push to sign Benfica and Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez this month.
The Portuguese side are adamant that any club has to pay the player’s release clause of £106m to make this deal happen. They won’t sell him for anything less than that.
A few weeks ago, Benfica rejected a £112m offer from Chelsea for the 21-year-old. The Blues are looking to pay over the clause to keep the payment terms on their side. The Portuguese side are adamant that the clause be triggered.
Although Fernandez has made it clear that he wants to play for Chelsea, Benfica are bent on keeping him till the summer. They signed him from River Plate in the preceding summer itself.
Chelsea boss Graham Potter needs midfield reinforcements soon. Their initial bid of £55m for Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo has been rejected. Long-term midfield target Declan Rice is favouring a summer move to Arsenal instead of coming to west London.
With Jorginho more than likely to leave Stamford Bridge upon the expiry of his contract in the summer and N’Golo Kante’s injury woes not relenting, the Blues do lack legs and quality in midfield. Youngster Lewis Hall had to start alongside Jorginho at Anfield as a result.
Coming back to Fernandez, we all know how good he has been since joining Benfica. His performance levels were very good at River Plate too. If that was not enough, he played a key role in Argentina lifting the World Cup last month.
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The 21-year-old can provide legs, passing quality, great coverage of the ground and flexibility in midfield. If Chelsea are serious about mounting a top-four challenge this season, a midfield addition like Fernandez or Caicedo is a must.