FC Famalicao's Alejandro Millan vies with Benfica's Enzo Fernandez. (Photo by MIGUEL RIOPA/AFP via Getty Images)
According to UOL Esporte (h/t Evening Standard), Manchester United are ready to beat their rivals Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool in the signature of Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez.
The report further reveals that United are comfortable in paying the asking price to sign the World Cup winner. They are even prepared to pay over the odds just to make sure he comes to Old Trafford.
Fernandez, who plays his club football for Benfica, is valued at around £105m by the Portuguese giants. They have already rejected an £88m offer from Liverpool (Daily Mail).
The 21-year-old was named the best young player in the World Cup as his exploits in Qatar helped his nation make history and win their third World Cup. His performances in the deeper-lying midfield role were superb, to say the least.
The former River Plate midfielder joined Benfica in the preceding summer window itself. But, his performances in the league and Champions League, combined with what he did over the last month have probably determined that he could be on a move very soon.
About his attributes, Fernandez has everything to his game that makes up for a successful midfielder in the elite game. He is a pass master, can control the tempo of the game and reads the game exceptionally well (remember that challenge on Kylian Mbappe in a World Cup final in the last minute of extra-time when the Frenchman was dribbling his way to goal?).
Moreover, he can score goals and assist as well. He scored three goals and assisted five in 24 appearances in all competitions for Benfica in the first half of this season.
Chelsea could do with a player like him in their squad as soon as possible. We lack a dynamic presence in that department and someone who can both control the tempo of the game and be a destroyer of opposition attacks. If United somehow stumble to complete the deal, we should be in the front of the queue to sign him.
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