Chelsea are on the verge of completing a transfer for Benfica star Enzo Fernandez after the Blues moved swiftly to secure his signature following his World Cup displays for Argentina. New technical director Christopher Vivell was sent to Portugal to open official talks for Fernandez last week in the hope Chelsea could avoid paying the £105million release clause in his contract.
Although paying that clause would confirm his departure, Chelsea are willing to pay above that fee to secure him if they can agree favourable terms, as football.london understands. Benfica appeared very firm on their stance that the release clause being paid would be the only way Fernandez can leave, but it now appears Todd Boehly and Co. have been able to agree a fee paid in instalments.
As first revealed by Felix Johnston Chelsea and Benfica agreed the exact structure of the transfer on Monday. €130million (£114million) could be paid to the Portuguese club in total with €120million (£105.9m) arriving across three equal instalments, with the remaining €10million (£8.8million) available as performance-related add-ons.
