Chelsea have wanted Enzo Fernandez all month, with the move breaking down early on – but the Blues are back at the table to thrash out the deal once more
(Image credit: Valter Gouveia/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Chelsea are reportedly preparing to re-enter negotiations over a move for Benfica and Argentina star Enzo Fernandez, after talks broke down earlier this month.
The Blues failed in their previous bid to sign the World Cup-winning playmaker, with Benfica rejecting their attempt to pay less than his release clause.
According to the Guardian, that release clause is set at £106m – and Chelsea intend to try again to bring Fernandez to Stamford Bridge.
Fernandez was named Best Young Player at the 2022 World Cup (Image credit: Marvin Ibo Guengoer – GES Sportfoto/Getty Images)
It's already been a busy January transfer window for the Blues, who have made six signings at a combined cost of well over £200m – including a loan fee worth almost £10m for Joao Felix.
The new permanent arrivals include young France defender Benoit Badiashile and Ukraine attacking sensation Mykhailo Mudryk – who have joined on contracts running to 2029 and 2030 respectively. Such unusually long deals have prompted accusations that Chelsea are trying to get around the Premier League's Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules.
On Saturday, Forbes reported that Chelsea's January spending so far had exceeded that of the 78 clubs in La Liga, Serie A, the Bundesliga and Ligue 1 combined – but Fernandez appears to remain a serious target.
That's despite the Evening Standard suggesting that the Blues could run into issues as they would have to pay Fernandez's buyout clause up front – assuming they met it, which it seems Benfica would insist upon.
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
Fernandez only joined Benfica from River Plate last June (Image credit: Jose Manuel Alvarez/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
After their initial failed approach to sign Fernandez, Chelsea were accused by Benfica boss Roger Schmidt of unsettling Primeira Liga leaders' main man.
But it doesn't sound like that will stop the Blues from coming back for more – and this saga could still take a few more twists and turns before the window slams shut on 31 January.
Tom Hancock started freelancing for FourFourTwo in April 2019 and has also written for the Premier League and Opta Analyst, among others. He supports Wycombe Wanderers and has a soft spot for Wealdstone. A self-confessed statto, he has been known to watch football with a spreadsheet (or several) open...
