Chelsea have reportedly made an offer for Benfica midfielder Gedson Fernandes. The 20-year-old has been linked with both the Blues and West Ham this month – but why could the deal be perfect for Frank Lampard’s men?
The offer is believed to be an initial 18-month loan deal with an obligation to buy if a certain number of fixtures are played in. The Portuguese midfielder would have to play at least 50% of games whilst at Stamford Bridge to trigger the clause to buy.
This is a clause that would benefit Chelsea if the offer is accepted by Fernandes and Benfica. It would give the Blues the perfect opportunity to try before they buy.
It is hard to see how the 20-year-old fits into Lampard’s line-up at the moment. The likes of Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic, N’Golo Kante, and Mason Mount will certainly all be ahead of him in the pecking order which could limit his chances.
However, if the young midfielder impresses after several appearances, Lampard has the option to increase his playing minutes to trigger the obligation to buy. It is reported to be worth £55 million and could be seen as a steal if Fernandes thrives in England.
He has suffered a difficult start to the season with Benfica. He has scored no goals in 13 appearances and has made just one assist. Benfica are currently sat top of the Liga NOS and Fernandes has fallen out of favour with manager Bruno Lage.
Lampard must consider why this might be before progressing with the move. However, the initial loan deal would limit the risk for the club and could be the perfect solution.
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