Chelsea transfer news: Blues bid for Enzo Fernandez was ‘astonishing’, they could make late return

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Chelsea could reportedly return with another move for Benfica’s Enzo Fernandez late in the January transfer window.

The 21-year-old star, who’s been at the centre of a transfer saga this month, is still linked with a potential switch to Stamford Bridge.

Now, journalist Ben Jacobs reports that Chelsea hope they can still strike a deal to sign the Argentine World Cup winner.

It is understood that the Blues are hoping to bring him to the Premier League for a transfer fee lower than his €120million (£106million) release clause, but there’s been no movement in recent days.

In addition, Jacobs says Chelsea’s previous bid of €85million in January is “astonishing” when you consider the player’s valuation. He expects the Benfica star’s price tag to reduce significantly in the summer.

If Graham Potter’s side are to sign the South American midfielder, it’ll be a take it or leave style deal in the closing moments of the window.

When discussing Enzo Fernandez, Ben Jacobs told The Football Terrace: “Chelsea are hoping that somehow that they can get a decent deal where, yes, they pay above the odds but they don’t have to pay €120million. But because Benfica keep reiterating at this point that it’s release clause or nothing there hasn’t been a great deal of movement in the last few days.

“But it’s also tactical for Chelsea to wait and I wouldn’t be surprised, especially if they don’t get Moises Caicedo, and they choose to turn back to Fernandez over somebody like [Amadou] Onana at Everton, who astonishingly might be available.

“If they return to Fernandez it will be late and it will be bullish and it will be take it or leave it style.

“Then Benfica will be in a position where an already divided board have to come to some consensus because there’s no way they are going to get anything close to what Chelsea are offering come to the summer when a little bit of the World Cup opportunism has passed and even if they are more suitors, it will be a scramble for a deal at far closer to his market rate.

“So when Chelsea, for example, offered €85million and Benfica speak of that being disrespectful due it being significantly below the release clause, €85million would be ambitious in the summer. He’s a player who is valued at the moment, in general, at the lower end €45million and at the higher end €65million. So even €85 million is an absolutely astonishing deal.”

Chelsea fans will be sceptical of getting their hopes up too high of signing Fernandez because there was such a buzz about him earlier in January.

For certain, the all-action central midfielder is exactly the type of profile to improve and help the Blues XI.

However, not every transfer under the new ownership has been value for money, so surely the club don’t want a reputation of overpaying for every single player.

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