Chelsea can still sign Benfica midfielder Enzo Fernandez in January. (Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP via Getty Images)
According to The Athletic (subscription required), Chelsea held meeting with Portuguese side SL Benfica over the possible signing of Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez.
The Blues have been heavily linked with a move for the 21-year-old who has a release clause worth £106 million in his current contract. The west London side are looking to negotiate the price down, although it remains to be seen if they can be successful in that.
Now, Benfica president Rui Costa, Fernandez’s agent Jorge Mendes and the Blues owners were all at the meeting that took place in London last night (January 3).
Fernandez, who only joined the Portuguese side in July this summer has seen his stock rise exponentially through the months. The 21-year-old was crucial for his country at the World Cup last month and helped them lift the coveted trophy in Qatar.
He has also been crucial for his club this season, featuring in 25 games for them in all competitions, scoring three and assisting another five in the process. He played an important role to help his side finish top of their Champions League group-stage table, despite the likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus being in their group.
Graham Potter has the issue of an ageing midfield. Jorginho and N’Golo Kante are over 30 and beyond their prime, while the likes of Mateo Kovacic, Conor Gallagher and Mason Mount have not managed to impress so far.
Fernandez has shown his calibre and potential at the highest stage in the game and while his release clause is jaw-dropping, it could prove to be worth it with the return that the midfielder will provide in the near future.
The Blues holding a meeting will come as very exciting news to the fans, but they will be wise to not get their hopes up till a deal is secured. Till then, one can only hope that our owners were charming enough to convince the Portuguese side to sell their young talent after just five months of joining them.
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