Chelsea will go all out with €120 million bid for World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez ahead of the transfer deadline.
According to Cesar Luis Merlo, Chelsea have submitted a €120 million bid for Benfica midfielder Enzo Fernandez on the penultimate day of the transfer window. Over the course of the past month, the Blues have tried to secure the signing of the Argentine international on multiple occasions. But, Benfica president Rui Costa stood in their way.
🚨Última oferta de Chelsea por Enzo Fernández: €120M sin bonos por objetivos y el dinero en un pago a la firma y otros cinco pagos.
*️⃣La decisión pasa pura y exclusivamente por el presidente del Benfica, Rui Costa, que debe definir si la acepta o no.⌛ pic.twitter.com/H5co4Njo3H— César Luis Merlo (@CLMerlo) January 30, 2023
However, the €120 million bid might change the president’s stance. The Blues might finally secure their biggest signing of the January transfer window. There is a €120 million release clause in the 22-year-old’s contract. But it has not been triggered because Chelsea have offered to pay the entire amount over a period of time.
The ball is in Rui Costa’s court, and it will be interesting to see if the Benfica president lets his star midfielder leave. At the start of January, the Blues were pushing for the signature of the Argentine. But they did not meet the Portuguese club’s asking price. As a result, negotiations between the clubs broke down.
With the transfer window in its final phase, Chelsea are once again pushing for Enzo Fernandez with the help of super-agent Jorge Mendes. Discussions between the clubs have resumed over a potential deal for the World Cup winner.
Chelsea’s board wants to land the midfielder in this window itself and are ready to pay the asking price. The Blues might face a lot of competition for Fernandez ahead of the next season. And as a result, they want to secure the signing of the young sensation as soon as possible.
Enzo Fernandez won the Young Player of the Tournament award at the FIFA World Cup 2022. He was at the peak of his powers in the recently-concluded World Cup where Argentina emerged as champions. His performances in the middle of the park for La Albiceleste attracted a lot of attention.
The 22-year-old perfectly fits the bill at Chelsea, with star players Jorginho and N’Golo Kante nearing the end of their contracts. The west Londoners desperately need a new midfielder, and Fernandez’s arrival could help the club climb back to the top.
The fact that Fernandez is a versatile player and can be used in different roles in the midfield will surely help Graham Potter. The 22-year-old might not be worth €120 million at the moment. But he has the potential to justify the price tag in the years to come.
If Chelsea manage to secure his services, they can surely push for a top six finish this season. Meanwhile, if Fernandez leaves, Benfica will have to quickly look for a replacement. The Argentine midfielder has been clinical for the Portuguese outfit this season with 11 goal contributions across competitions.
