Fabrizio Dish out Latest Update on Enzo Fernandez Transfer To Chelsea

Chelsea will push again in the next hours and days to sign Enzo Fernandez. Plan is to get him immediately, not in June. Deal depends on Benfica decision now. 🔵 #CFC

Enzo already accepted Chelsea’s contract bid, but he played as he’d never disrespect Benfica.

Up to Rui Costa.

Chelsea will push again in the next hours and days to sign Enzo Fernandez. Plan is to get him immediately, not in June. Deal depends on Benfica decision now. 🔵 #CFC

Enzo already accepted Chelsea's contract bid, but he played as he'd never disrespect Benfica.

Up to Rui Costa. pic.twitter.com/eRhrJNlqzt

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 31, 2022

Benfica manager Schmidt on the Enzo Fernández deal: “I don’t know if this was Enzo’s last match, he’s a fantastic player”. 🚨🇦🇷 #Benfica #CFC @cfcpys

“Sometimes in football things happen and players have to make a decision… we’ll see what happens in next weeks”.

Benfica manager Schmidt on the Enzo Fernández deal: “I don’t know if this was Enzo’s last match, he’s a fantastic player”. 🚨🇦🇷 #Benfica #CFC @cfcpys

“Sometimes in football things happen and players have to make a decision… we’ll see what happens in next weeks”. pic.twitter.com/XXtpLEWU9R

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 31, 2022

Enzo Fernández starts. After direct talk with Roger Schmidt, Argentinian star is in Benfica starting XI for tonight game 🚨🔴 #Benfica #CFC

There’s a chance now that Enzo Fernandez starts tonight after a conversation with the manager. Chelsea were in contact this morning and afternoon but not tonight, nothing will be decided tonight.

Advancing negotiations between Chelsea & Benfica, premier league is approaching for Enzo.

However, Fernández’s contract contains a £106m release clause and Benfica, who signed the Argentina international from River Plate for an initial €10m last summer, do not want to lose him during January. The Portuguese club are holding out for the full fee and have told Fernández, whose deal expires in 2027, that they will give him a significant pay rise if he stays with them until the end of the season. It is understood, though, that Fernández wants to make the move to Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea, who are also closing in on a deal for the Monaco centre-back Benoît Badiashile, are reluctant to trigger Fernández’s release clause. Chelsea are hopeful of convincing Benfica to relent on their stance by offering a significant fee up front to secure his services.

If that proves impossible then Chelsea have other possibilities in midfield. Mac Allister also starred for Argentina during the World Cup and could be more affordable than Fernández, although the 24-year-old recently extended his contract at Brighton until 2025.

Potter coached Mac Allister at Brighton and is keen to bolster his options in midfield. Chelsea are close to extending N’Golo Kanté’s contract before he becomes a free agent in the summer but the Frenchman has not played since suffering a torn hamstring last August. Kanté has endured a series of injury problems and is not expected to feature until March.