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.
