Chelsea have reportedly reached an agreement to sign Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernandez from Benfica this month.
According to Felix Johnston, it seems that Chelsea have finally made a breakthrough in their pursuit of Enzo Fernandez. And the Blues have agreed on a fee with Benfica for the 21-year-old midfielder. Apparently, Chelsea will pay €120 million for the player, and the Portuguese club will also receive €10 million in the form of bonuses.
The initial fee of €120 million will be paid in three instalments, and the bonuses will be performance related. Apparently, Chelsea are now in contact with the player’s representatives regarding a medical and the move could be formalised soon. The two parties have a contractual agreement over a January deal.
Enzo Fernandez has been outstanding for Benfica and Argentina over the past few months, and he was a key player for his country as they lifted the World Cup last month. The 21-year-old has all the attributes to develop into a world-class player. And with the €130 million deal, Chelsea are getting themselves a potential superstar if he manages to fulfil his potential.
Jorginho has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge at the end of the season. And Enzo Fernandez could prove to be the ideal long-term replacement for the Italian international. Jorginho will be a free agent in the summer, and the Blues will likely see him depart this year.
EXCL: Enzo Fernandez to Chelsea is done.
Structure of the deal has now been agreed & signed. As verbally agreed days ago, €120m + €10m. €120m in 3 instalments, €10m performance related.
Medical departments in communication, medical day to be agreed. pic.twitter.com/JlmzMZhj2s
— Felix (@FelixJohnston_) January 2, 2023
It will be interesting to see if Fernandez can adapt to English football quickly and hit the ground running for Chelsea. The Blues have had a poor season by their standards and can certainly use a couple of January additions that can rejuvenate the squad and lift the spirits around the club.
Chelsea are reportedly set to sign AS Monaco defender Benoit Badiashile as well. Improving the midfield and the defence could prove to be a smart decision for Graham Potter. The west Londoners will need to secure Champions League qualification this season. And strengthening the squad in January could help them overtake their rivals in the race for a top-four finish.
It will be interesting to see if the Blues decide to move for an attacker before the transfer window closes. Chelsea have struggled in the final third during the first half of the season, and they should look to bring in a reliable goalscorer in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, Enzo Fernandez showed his capability during the World Cup and has the skill set to thrive in the Premier League. The World Cup winner will hope to continue his development with regular football at Stamford Bridge. And a manager like Graham Potter could help him improve further.
Potter helped players like Moises Caicedo develop during his time at Brighton & Hove Albion, and he will hope to influence Fernandez’s growth as well. The move to Chelsea is a major step up in the career of the 21-year-old Argentine international, and it remains to be seen whether he can make his mark in the Premier League during the second half of the season.
