Journalist explains Enzo Fernandez’s stance amid new Chelsea bid

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Enzo Fernandez is currently waiting for a “friendly” agreement between Benfica and Chelsea as the London club made an improved offer for the midfielder, according to Argentinean journalist Cesar Luis Merlo.

There are less than three days left in the January transfer window, and Fernandez’s future at Benfica remains in the balance.

As previously reported by Portugues outlet Record, the Blues were expected to make an improved offer for the 22-year-old despite Benfica’s insistence that the player’s €120million (£105m) release clause must be paid for the transfer to happen.

TyC Sports journalist Merlo claims that Chelsea already stated that they are willing to pay €100m plus a player of their choice for Fernandez.

This would be arguably a fair offer, although the report does not specify the payment terms, and it could prove crucial from Benfica’s perspective.

The Portuguese club’s president, Rui Costa, is said to be the person who will make the final decision on the deal.

Costa has reportedly been trying to convince Fernandez to finish the season at Benfica and raise the release clause to €150m (£132m) by promising a payment of €2m to the player, so it is safe to assume that he is not very keen on selling the player.

Benfica manager Roger Schmidt clarified the club’s stance earlier this month.

“We do not want to sell him, neither I nor the president,” the manager told the media (via ESPN).

“We know that there is a release clause, if he wants to leave and someone activates the clause, then maybe we lose the player.

“There is a club who wants our player. They know we don’t want to sell the player.

“They tried to get the player on their side, and they know that they can only get this player when they pay the clause.”

Fernandez is ‘waiting’

But more importantly, how does Fernandez feel about the potential Chelsea move?

According to Merlo, the midfielder is not pushing for the transfer and prefers to wait for an amicable agreement between the two clubs.

Schmidt previously mentioned that Fernandez felt “crazy” about the potential move, so the Argentine international’s decision not to force a move, albeit not helpful to Chelsea’s case, arguably shows his professionalism.

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