Chelsea have begun exploring alternatives to Enzo Fernandez as negotiations with Benfica continue to stall over a £105million transfer. The Argentine World Cup winner has been strongly linked with a move to west London this month but, with Todd Boehly struggling to conclude a deal, other targets may be firmed out.
football.london understands that the Blues made a bid in excess of the £105m release clause in Fernandez's contract, with intense talks with Benfica said to be held over the past few days. However, the structure of the deal has become a problematic issue for Chelsea, with the Portuguese outfit keen to inherit the fee in full rather than in instalments.
The player has made his intentions clear of sealing a move to Stamford Bridge following Chelsea's re-emerged interest. Whilst talks continue in Lisbon, Fernandez has been omitted from Roger Schmit's side for this evening's Liga NOS trip to Arouca.
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However, despite Boehly's best efforts, reports from Portugal have claimed the World Cup winner is expected to stay at the Estadio da Luz. With time running out for Chelsea to complete any late business, reports from Italy have identified an alternative from Serie A for Fernandez.
According to TuttoMercatoWeb (via Football Italia), the Blues have approached Inter Milan for the services of Nicolo Barella. It's said that the Italian midfielder has attracted interest after his performances in Italy and have identified him as an alternative to Fernandez.
However, the Nerazzurri were quick to rebuff the approach and are reluctant to discuss a deal for Barella, who is worth €80m (£70.5m) by CIES Football Observatory. The 25-year-old, who sees his contract at San Siro expire in 2026, has been a regular for Simone Inzaghi's side this season with 25 appearances made in all competitions, contributing to 13 goals.
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