Chelsea face a race against time to complete a move for Enzo Fernandez from Benfica on January transfer deadline day as it appears a potential flight may have been booked for the midfielder. The Blues reopened talks late into the window after holding interest throughout the month.
The opening discussion broke down in early January after being referred to Fernandez's £105million release clause in his current contract. Co-owner Todd Boehly has been keen to avoid paying the release clause as the payment has to be made in one full instalment rather than in other preferential payment terms.
Late talks continue to be held over a switch, with Chelsea hopeful of landing the Argentina international on terms that suit them. Despite holding a strong stance on the World Cup winner, Benfica boss Roger Schmidt appear to soften that just before the deadline, failing to rule out an exit.
READ MORE: Chelsea and Todd Boehly sent key Enzo Fernandez transfer instruction amid Benfica 'flight delay'
"I think we always have to prepare everything in the background, especially at the end of the transfer window, especially when you're not in the driver's seat," Schmidt told reporters. "We all know that we have a situation with Enzo – he has a clause in the contract – and that means if the player wants and there is a club that pays this amount of money, you cannot stop that. Of course, at this moment, you have to be prepared and find solutions.
"At the moment, he is our player and there is no deal. We will see what happens in the next two days and then I am happy when the transfer window is closed and we can focus completely on the players in our squad and try to play a top season."
With such late activity comes the need to have plans in place and in the case of Fernandez, it will be no different, with the desire to have flights and medicals put in place to complete the signing. However, with time slowly running out for Chelsea to complete the deal, eagle-eyed supporters would have noticed that the flight form Lisbon to England has had a few changes.
Initially, a flight scanner had shown a 6pm flight from Lisbon planned to land at Farnborough for 8:24pm. However, with talks still in deadlock, the plane is now due to depart at three hours late at 9:27pm and will now land in Luton at 10:53pm.
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