Liverpool have been linked with a move for Benfica midfielder Enzo Fernandez to help aid with their midfield injury crisis so far this season.
The youngster is a former target of north west rivals Manchester United but now it is the Reds who could look to pursue a deal for him as early as January, with a slow start to the season heavily impacted by a long list of injuries to their current stars.
Mirror Football tells you all you need to know about the Benfica ace including where he’s from, his career so far and what’s been said about him.
Who is Enzo Fernandez?
Fernandez plays as a central midfielder for Portuguese giants Benfica, having only joined the Primeira Liga outfit over the summer in a deal worth €10million (£8.9million) plus €8m (£7.1m) in add-ons from Argentine club River Plate.
The 21-year-old, born on January 17, 2001 in San Martin, Argentina joined local side Club La Recova at the age of six in 2005, before joining River Plate the following year. After thirteen years in the club’s youth ranks, Fernández was promoted to the first-team in 2019, which was followed by a loan spell with fellow top flight club Defensa y Justicia.
On the international stage, Fernandez earned himself two caps with Argentina’s under-21 side in 2019. After three years with no international football, he then earned his first call-up to the senior squad this month, before making his debut in Saturday’s 3-0 friendly win over Honduras.
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Career so far
Despite graduating into River Plate’s senior team in January 2019, Fernandez didn’t make his first team debut until March 2020. However, he joined fellow top flight side Defensa y Justicia on loan for the 2020/21 campaign, scoring once in 33 appearances across all competitions and helping them to the Copa Sudamericana and Recopa Sudamericana titles.
After impressing on loan, he was recalled to River Plate in July 2021 and made a further 24 appearances as Los Millonarios won the Argentine Primera Division. In the current 2022 campaign, he registered 10 goals and seven assists in 28 games for River Plate, before moving to Benfica in July.
Since making the jump to European football, Fernandez has already featured 13 times for Benfica. All three of his goals came in his first three games for the club, while his overall performances earned him the Primeira Liga Midfielder of the Month award for August.
What’s been said?
After being previously linked with a move to Man United over the summer, while there was also reported interest from Premier League rivals Arsenal, Manchester City, Tottenham and even Wolves, Fernandez is now being strongly mooted as a target of Liverpool.
Portuguese outlet O Jogo broke the news that the Reds are interested in signing Fernandez and could move for the Benfica midfielder as early as January, despite the 21-year-old only joining the Lisbon-based outfit over the summer. Yet his early season form is already linking him with another move.
However, Benfica have inserted a £106m release clause in his contract, meaning Liverpool will have to spend big, although that could put them off making a move until the summer. As well as this, it is reported that Fernandez is focused on Benfica and is not open to switching teams in the middle of the season, having just signed a contract until 2027.
