Report: Club making effort to stop player from joining Chelsea in January

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Benfica have been trying to convince Enzo Fernandez to postpone a move to Chelsea until the summer, according to The Times.

While reports suggest that Chelsea are still trying to negotiate favourable payment terms, they are said to be prepared to activate the 21-year-old’s €120million (£106m) release clause at Benfica.

Benfica president Rui Costa made a statement recently that despite the club’s reluctance to sell the player, they are willing to satisfy the player if the clause is triggered.

This should have been obvious, it is what a release clause is for in the first place, but the statement also indicates that the club are not open to negotiating a lower price.

Behind the scenes, however, Benfica have reportedly been making an effort to convince Fernandez to at least finish the season in Portugal.

The Times claims Benfica are offering the Argentina international a much-improved contract which could see him earn up to £7m more in performance-related bonuses.

The new deal would also raise the midfielder’s release clause by £76m, although Benfica would still let him go for less than that, the report adds.

According to Argentinean outlet Ole, Benfica also promise that they would be committed to listening to offers for him in the summer.

While Benfica are clearly aware that they cannot compete with Premier League clubs financially, Fernandez’s stance that he does not want to upset the people at the club may actually help tip the scales in the club’s favour.

Benfica are currently leading the Portuguese Primeira Liga table but are only five points ahead of their rivals, Porto.

Fernandez’s potential January exit is a clear threat to their title push.

Chelsea, on the other hand, understandably want to rush the process and avoid potential bidding wars for the player in the summer.

An agreement that allows Fernandez to finish the season with Benfica on loan would likely satisfy the Portuguese club, but Chelsea also desperately need all the firepower they can muster to secure a top four finish in the Premier League.

The Blues should have the upper hand, though, if as the reports suggest, they have the money to trigger the release clause.

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