Chelsea Will ‘accelerate negotiations’ with Benfica for Enzo Fernández, with a transfer looking ‘increasingly concrete’ next month.
That’s according to A Bola, who cover the ongoing situation around the Argentina star today after he made his return for the Portuguese side.
They explain that Chelsea are ‘in front’ for Fernández and ‘seem willing’ to pay more than his €120m release clause to get him.
They have already secured a yes from Fernández on the move and now plan to speed up negotiations with the Eagles to finalise the transfer.
A deal is becoming ‘increasingly concrete’ with the Blues having taken a ‘step forward’ ahead of the competition in the race for Fernández’s signature.
There is now established contact with Benfica over the transfer and an understanding with Fernández for them to ‘accelerate’ their efforts and get a deal over the line.
Record, meanwhile, say that Chelsea are offering €130m for the midfielder, so €10m more than his release clause. They have also offered the player four times his current salary to make the move to Stamford Bridge and Fernández is ‘inclined to accept’ this proposal.
It is Benfica who are resisting, even talking the player into featuring in the loss to Braga last night against his wishes.
Fernández had insisted he was not fully fit but was talked into playing by manager Roger Schmidt and director of football Rui Costa.
That decision means Benfica now have to pay River Plate a further €2m from the original deal to sign Fernández this summer and perhaps it is payments similar to this which are owed or will be owed in the event of a transfer which is causing them to delay or want more up-front from Chelsea.
Either way, the Blues are keen to push the deal over the line and have already secured Fernández’s yes, a major milestone that the potential competition have not completed.
