Chelsea report: Enzo Fernandez transfer uncertain as midfielder returns to action
Chelsea have been accused of unsettling the highly-rated Argentina World Cup winner, who Benfica won't let go of lightly
![Chelsea-linked Enzo Fernandez of Argentina looks on during the FIFA World Cup 2022 quarter-final match between the Netherlands and Argentina on 9 December, 2022 at the Lusail Iconic Stadium in Lusail, Qatar.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/aUDQRppBKB9HoKbMda3DYk-320-80.jpg)
Chelsea's attempts to sign World Cup-winning Benfica wonderkid Enzo Fernandez appear to have been dented, with reports suggesting that talks over a potential move have ground to a halt.
The midfielder scooped the Best Young Player award as Argentina were crowned world champions in Qatar, and he has been strongly linked with a switch to Stamford Bridge.
However, a deal doesn't seem imminent, with football.london claiming that it currently 'hangs in the balance'.
Chelsea are believed to have already made a £75m bid for Fernandez – who only joined Benfica from River Plate last June.
However, the Portuguese giants are said to be refusing to sell the 21-year-old for less than his £105m release clause – which it was recently reported that the Blues would be willing to activate.
It is no secret that Fernandez has a release clause in his contract: Benfica boss Roger Schmidt has openly admitted as much, eluding to 'a club' (presumably Chelsea) trying to sign him. Speaking ahead of his side's 1-0 Primeira Liga victory over Portimonense on Friday, he said:
"We do not want to sell Enzo. Not me; not the president; nobody. We know; everyone knows he has a clause in the contract and if the player wants to leave and someone comes and pays the clause, of course we cannot work against that. Then maybe we will lose the player.
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
"There is a club who want our player. They know we don’t want to sell the player. They tried to get the player on their side and they know they can only get this player when they pay the clause. It is a very clear situation. What the club is doing, it is disrespectful against all of us – against Benfica – and I cannot accept what they are doing."
The Portimonense game saw Fernandez return after being left out of Benfica's previous match amid the Chelsea speculation – and Schmidt was frank about the effect it had had on his player, accusing Chelsea of driving him mad and changing their tune over negotiations. He added:
"So to make the player crazy, and then to pretend they can pay the clause and then later they want to negotiate, it is not what I understand to be [a] good relationship between clubs who want to discuss players."
More Chelsea stories
Chelsea are among a number of clubs linked with a move for Brighton's Argentine World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister, but the midfielder says he is in no haste to leave the Seagulls.
Meanwhile, Celtic's Josip Juranovic and Inter Milan's Denzel Dumfries are said to have been identified as potential right-back targets, with Reece James out injured again.
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
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...