Graeme Souness has slammed Todd Boehly for the record-breaking signing of Enzo Fernandez. The 22-year-old was heavily linked with a move to Stamford Bridge throughout January after impressing for Argentina at the World Cup in Qatar.
The Blues hierarchy held extensive talks with Benfica on deadline day in order to sign the midfielder who was identified as a primary target in late December, football.london understands. Chelsea will pay Benfica £106.7million fee in six instalments, the first of which is thought to be around £30m.
Fernandez signed an eight-and-a-half-year contract at Stamford Bridge, becoming the most expensive player in the west Londoners' history. But, despite the Argentine winning the 'best young player' award at the World Cup, Souness believes that Boehly has paid over the odds.
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Writing for the Daily Mail, the former Liverpool defender asked: "Who on earth is advising Todd Boehly at Chelsea? He might be an American investor with extremely deep pockets who fancies his chances as a Premier League high roller, but who is actually providing intelligence and assessment on the value of the players he is buying?
"When it comes to Fernandez, Chelsea have paid a premium on top of a premium on top of a premium. A premium because it is the Premier League calling. A premium because it is Chelsea. A premium because they want this player now.
"Boehly is the latest super-rich businessman learning about our football the hard way and having his trousers taken down when it comes to transfer dealings, by not knowing the value of the players he is buying."
Fellow Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson has also slammed Boehly recently for the way he has conducted tgransfer business. In a column for the Daily Star, the former Arsenal midfielder wrote: "I worry for the future of Chelsea when Todd Boehly is handing out eight-year contracts like there is no tomorrow.
"Football is a funny old game and eight years is such a long time — there is going to be a domino effect at Stamford Bridge - that's for sure.
"It's alright now but in five years, where are Chelsea going to be? Boehly and the new hierarchy can't keep doing this because if they don't get Champions League football, they're already in trouble."
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