Chelsea can still sign Benfica midfielder Enzo Fernandez in January. (Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP via Getty Images)
According to Diario Record (h/t Football. London), Portuguese side SL Benfica has rejected a €100 million offer by an unnamed club for Chelsea target and Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez.
The 21-year-old has caught the eyes of some of the European elite clubs after his performance for his country at the World Cup. He was a crucial part of their midfield and helped his side become World Champions after beating France in the finals via a penalty shoot-out.
Fernandez was even named the FIFA Young Player of the Tournament, something that has been won by the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Thomas Muller in the past. With the likes of Real Madrid, Manchester City, Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain interested in the midfielder, one unnamed club made the nine-figure offer.
However, the Portuguese side have rejected that offer and are holding out for a €120 million offer for their prized asset. The Blues are in dire need to revamp their midfield next year.
Jorginho and N’Golo Kante are beyond their prime and also see their contracts expire at the end of the season. Mateo Kovacic and Ruben Loftus-Cheek have struggled to stay fit and also have been inconsistent with their performances in the middle of the park.
Young midfielders are needed to help the west London club begin a new era and Fernandez fits such a bill. At just 21, he is a world champion and showed his potential and talent at the highest stage in the game. It is no wonder, so many top clubs are after him.
But, the Argentina international only joined Benfica this summer and the club looks adamant about keeping hold of the player. City and PSG have some good financial might and could provide tough competition to us for his signature.
The Blues need to sign a midfielder in January, irrespective if it is the 21-year-old or not. With the transfer window less than a fortnight away, it remains to be seen which new face is added in the middle of the park at Stamford Bridge.
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