Chelsea have been told there is still a chance they can secure a January transfer for Benfica star Enzo Fernandez. The Blues pushed hard for the Argentine international at the start of the window but saw their enquiries rebuffed by the Portuguese outfit who insisted his £106million release clause being met would be the only way he would be allowed to leave.
However, multiple reports indicated that a transfer was nearing completion, with Chelsea not actually paying the release clause, but instead offering equal instalments that matched the clause. Although it then became clear, the Blues had instead presented a proposal worth £87million that included three first-team players going the other way.
If that offer was accepted Hakim Ziyech would have been a permanent departure, with January arrivals David Datro Fofana and Andrey Santos joining on loan. Benfica then grew unhappy with Chelsea’s attempts to spread the cost of the deal, instead wanting to receive it all at once, thus resulting in the Blues moving on to other transfer targets leaving Fernandez, who had pushed for a move away, looking likely to remain in Portugal.
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Benfica manager Roger Schmidt has since provided plenty of comments on Fernandez that indicated from their perspective he will not be going anywhere. Fernandez missed two training sessions between Christmas and New Year as he pushed for a transfer, but Schmidt admitted it would all be swept under the carpet.
"This question is closed. He's (Enzo Fernandez) one of our players. He's happy, training well, he's part of the team. Everything has been said.
"Now we restart from zero with Enzo. He will be back, we count on him - he's our player, we need Enzo."
Despite Chelsea agreeing a £88million deal to sign Mykhailo Mudryk over the weekend, Chelsea could still reignite their interest in Fernandez, according to Dharmesh Sheth.
In an interview with GiveMeSport, the Sky Sports reporter said: "Fernandez has had a few issues. He’s been dropped for a game, he’s tried to make peace with the club.
"There was a couple of social media posts of him watching the game at the stadium. He’s back in training now.
"The people I’m speaking to in Portugal who’ve got close links to Benfica, are telling me this one doesn’t feel over, simply because his head was turned so much earlier in the window."
However, as the move for Fernandez stalled, Chelsea began looking at other options in the position and identified Moises Caicedo as a potential alternative, but for a mid-season departure Brighton could demand in excess of £75million.
According to Simon Phillips via GiveMeSport, the Blues are expected to make their first official enquiry for the Seagulls midfielder this week. He wrote: "I’ve been told to expect a first offer from Chelsea this week to test the waters.
"The key will be if Chelsea can agree a fee with Brighton, and if they are willing to spend the £70m quoted fee that it will take for Brighton to allow their star midfielder to go this month."
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