Benfica star Enzo Fernández wants to join Chelsea in Janaury and has ‘everything agreed’ with the Premier League side, according to O Jogo.
The Argentina international has a €120m release clause and the Blues have offered a deal worth higher than this figure.
Benfica president, Rui Costa, has ‘rejected’ the terms initially proposed by Chelsea to sign the midfielder. The World Cup winner, on the other hand, is keen to seal a move to Stamford Bridge and is forcing Costa to accept the deal proposed by Graham Potter’s side.
Fernández’s recent behaviour has not pleased Benfica’s officials and their supporters. The club had granted their players a few days off to celebrate New Year at a destination not far away from Lisbon.
The 21-year-old went against the guidelines issued by the club, returning to Argentina, and also missed two training sessions on Monday.
Benfica have issued an ultimatum to the player to immediately appear in Lisbon. He will be fined, irrespective of the outcome of his possible transfer to Chelsea.
The newspaper further states the scenario of selling the South American to the west London club ‘remains on the table’ after they made an offer in excess of €120m.
Chelsea intend to spread the payment over several years, something that Costa didn’t want to accept. This didn’t please Fernández.
O Jogo state the Benfica chief ‘finds himself leaning against the wall, pressured by the very high value of the transfer, but also by the example he will have to set for the squad’.
Costa is in a tough spot, and it will be interesting to see what he will decide in the end.
