Chelsea signing has become ‘very unlikely’ – Club being ‘intransigent’ over deadline day deal

Enzo Fernandez is not going to Chelsea in the January transfer window, some in the Portuguese media now say.

RTP, one of the most reliable outlets in the country, comes up to report that the midfielder is staying at Benfica for now.

It’s claimed that Chelsea did not meet the Eagles’ requests for the transfer, and any chances of a deal have now collapsed.

Benfica reportedly wanted the player’s €120m release clause to be paid at once, with their president Rui Costa being ‘intransigent about it’, but the Blues insisted on splitting that in several instalments.

According to RTP, it’s now ‘very unlikely’ Chelsea would trigger the clause as requested by the Eagles. Even though ‘anything could happen’ on deadline day, a source close to the process told them that Fernandez is staying.

Benfica are facing Arouca tonight, but the report claims the player has ‘no psychological condition’ to be involved in that game.

The lack of an agreement is also reported by outlet A Bola, who repeat that the payment method is the main issue, and point out that the final hours of the transfer window will be ‘crazy’ for the Eagles, with the midfielder pressing for the transfer.