Benfica head coach Roger Schmidt says he is confident Enzo Fernandez will remain at the club despite Chelsea reigniting their attempt to sign the midfielder before the January transfer window closes.
Chelsea opened talks with the Portuguese giants over a deal for the 22-year-old after he starred at the World Cup; Fernandez was named the tournament's standout young player and played a key role in Argentina's triumph.
However, negotiations broke down after it became apparent Chelsea were not prepared to pay Fernandez's buyout clause, which is set at €120million (£106million). "We do not want to sell him, neither I nor the president," said Schmidt earlier this month. "We know that there is a release clause and if he wants to leave and someone pays that clause, then maybe we lose the player.
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"There is a club that wants him, they tried to attract him, but they know that they can only have him if they pay the clause. It’s disrespectful to all of us, to Benfica, they’re driving the player crazy, they pretend they want to pay the clause and then they want to negotiate. About Enzo, this is all I’m going to say and I’m not going to answer any more questions about it."
Chelsea explored other midfield options but last week restarted talks with Benfica over a deal for Fernandez. However, the Primeira Liga leaders reiterated their stance that the Argentine would not be allowed to leave for anything below his release clause.
And Schmidt believes Fernandez will remain at the club this month, although Chelsea may return with another proposal for the midfielder in the coming days.
Speaking today, the Benfica head coach said: "Yes, of course [I'm confident Enzo stays]. I think when you see Enzo playing at the moment for Benfica, I see a player who is on his top level, who is very happy to play for the club and I think there is nothing else in the mindset of the player.
"I don't expect that we lose any of our players who are playing a lot and who are in the starting XI. That's why I see very focused players and that's why I expect that he stays."
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