According to Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea and Benfica are currently in direct communication about the prospect of a January deal for Enzo Fernandez.
Following his World Cup win and Young Player of the Tournament award, the Argentine midfielder has a plethora of top suitors.
The primary obstacle to the agreement to sign the 21-year-old in January is that the Portuguese club is not lowering its demands for him. They will only sell him if any club can activate his £106 million release clause.
Romano asserts that Chelsea would approach Benfica for a discussion and propose to waive the release clause in exchange for a “big fee.” In principle, Fernandez has already agreed to move.
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 are not messing around in this January transfer window. David Fofana, who joined the Blues from Molde for a reasonable price, is the only signing the club has already made public.
A new center-back, AS Monaco defender Benoit Badiashile, is apparently close to joining them during the winter transfer window, and they are also supposedly close to signing Andrey Santos. One of Argentina’s best players in the competition, Fernandez, had a fantastic World Cup season. In the seven games he participated in, he only managed one goal and one assist, but he made a big impression with his outstanding midfield play.
Manchester United might try to hijack the deal in an attempt to lure Fernandez to Old Trafford. After being appointed manager in the summer, Erik ten Hag greatly strengthened his midfield unit.
Christian Eriksen joined the team on a free transfer, while the Dutchman acquired Casemiro from Real Madrid for £70 million.
Given that Casemiro and Eriksen are both already 30 years old, Fernandez would be a great signing for the Red Devils.
