Chelsea and Benfica hit gridlock in talks over nine-figure Enzo Fernandez deal: report

By Alasdair Mackenzie
published

Chelsea are pushing to make Enzo Fernandez a British record signing before the January deadline passes

Enzo Fernandez
Enzo Fernandez for Argentina at the World Cup (Image credit: Getty)

Chelsea are yet to convince Benfica to sell midfielder Enzo Fernandez for a whopping €120 million, according to reports.

The Argentina international only joined the Portuguese club from River Plate last summer, but shot to stardom by winning the World Cup last month and claiming the tournament’s Best Young Player award.

Recent reports said that the Blues were on the brink of sealing a club-record deal (opens in new tab) for Fernandez on transfer deadline day. 

The January transfer window closes at 11pm tonight for Premier League sides.

Enzo Fernandez of Argentina poses for a photo with the FIFA Young Player award during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar.

Enzo Fernandez shot to global attention at the World Cup with Argentina (Image credit: Alex Caparros - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

Fabrizio Romano’s (opens in new tab) latest update isn’t a promising one for Chelsea, as he says that Benfica president Rui Costa is yet to agree to a €120m (£105m) sale. 

The Stamford Bridge club were hoping for a breakthrough overnight, but that hasn’t happened and they will continue to push for an agreement as the clock ticks down towards the deadline. 

The eye-watering figure would be the biggest ever spent by Chelsea, with their previous transfer record standing at £97.5m for Romelu Lukaku from Inter Milan in 2021. 

It would also set a new British transfer record, currently held by Manchester City’s £100m move for Jack Grealish the same year.

Mykhaylo Mudryk applauds while being introduced to the fans on the pitch at half time during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge on January 15, 2023 in London, England.

Chelsea have had a hectic winter with Mykhaylo Mudryk being the big news prior to Fernandez (Image credit: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

Chelsea have already been incredibly busy in the market this month, bringing in seven new faces.

Benoit Badiashile was first to join, before David Datro Fofana and Andrey Santos arrived.

Joao Felix then moved to London on loan, before the headline capture of Mykhaylo Mudryk.

Noni Madueke and Malo Gusto have both signed for the two-time Champions League winners, too. 

More Chelsea stories

Declan Rice has reportedly agreed to join Arsenal this summer (opens in new tab), with the West Ham (opens in new tab) midfielder also a transfer target for Chelsea (opens in new tab).

Chelsea have reopened talks over a move for Enzo Fernandez (opens in new tab), whom they were linked with at the start of January.

But the Blues look set to be beaten by Liverpool to the signature of Wolves star Matheus Nunes this summer (opens in new tab).

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Alasdair Mackenzie

Alasdair Mackenzie is a freelance journalist based in Rome, and a FourFourTwo contributor since 2015. When not pulling on the FFT shirt, he can be found at Reuters, The Times and the i. An Italophile since growing up on a diet of Football Italia on Channel 4, he now counts himself among thousands of fans sharing a passion for Ross County and Lazio.