CHELSEA FC
might return with another offer for Benfica’s Enzo Fernandez late in the
January transfer window.
A journalist Ben Jacobs reports on
YouTube that, Chelsea hope they can still strike a deal to sign the
Argentine World Cup winner. It is understood that the Blues are hoping to bring
him to the Premier League for a transfer fee lower than his €120million
"£106million" release clause, but there’s been no movement in recent
days. In addition, Jacobs says Chelsea’s previous offer of €85million in
January is “astonishing” when you consider the player’s valuation. He expects
the Benfica star’s price tag to reduce significantly in the summer.
Fernandez was
desperate to move to Chelsea at the start of January, but he is back playing
regularly for Benfica after being dropped for one game.
The 22-year-old is in line for a big pay rise if he moves, but Benfica have
been trying to get him to sign a new contract as they anticipate clubs such as
Real Madrid and Barcelona will try to sign him in the summer. Benfica boss
Roger Schmidt criticized Chelsea's behavior in their offer to sign
Fernandez earlier this month, voicing that: "There is a club that
wants him, they tried to attract him, but they know that they can only have him
if they pay the clause. It's disrespectful to all of Benfica. They're driving the
player crazy. They pretend they want to pay the clause and then they want to
negotiate."
With question
marks over the long-term futures of Jorginho and N'Golo Kante, whose contracts
expire at the end of the season. Chelsea want to sign at least one midfielder.
Although Chelsea can offer to pay Fernandez's £106m release clause, doing so
would impact their ability to obey with Premier League and UEFA financial fair
play rules. Along with Fernandez, their targets include Brighton's Moises
Caicedo, Borussia Dortmund's Jude Bellingham and West Ham's Declan Rice.
Chelsea also
want to strengthen in defense, with a young right-back being targeted to
provide cover for Reece James.
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