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Chelsea close in on Enzo Fernandez deal as Benfica talks progress.
Chelsea and Benfica are negotiating the terms of a club record £112 million deal to bring in Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernandez.
The 21-year-old has largely reached a personal agreement with Chelsea and even skipped training with Benfica to try to force a transfer to Stamford Bridge.
As part of their effort to adhere to UEFA financial fair play regulations, Chelsea wants to pay the transfer fee for Fernandez in three £37.5 million instalments.
Chelsea is one of four Premier League clubs on a UEFA financial watch list after spending £273 million over the summer.
Chelsea wants to break up payments for Fernandez’s contract across three years since their transfer activity is under scrutiny.
Fernandez was one of the World Cup’s breakout stars, and Chelsea has recognized him and Jude Bellingham as players who might anchor their midfield for many years to come.
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Fernandez returned to Portugal and participated for Benfica in their Primeira Liga match against Braga on December 30 after helping Argentina win the World Cup.
To celebrate New Year’s Eve, he went back to Argentina without authorization, and he hasn’t been back since, skipping training twice last week. He feels he has played his final game for the team he joined from River Plate last summer and anticipates being disciplined by Benfica.
All parties are keen to resolve negotiations by next week. Should talks collapse, that would leave Chelsea time to explore alternative targets like Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister and Ajax’s Edson Alvarez.
Given that River Plate is entitled to 25% of the overall transfer cost for Fernandez’s next move, Benfica are reluctant to accept any payment in instalments, but Chelsea are hopeful of striking an agreement.
Chelsea is reportedly nearing a £35 million agreement to acquire Monaco defender Benoit Badiashile, after recently concluding a $10 million deal to get Molde striker David Datro Fofana.
The Blues are also closing in on a deal to sign 18-year-old Vasco da Gama midfielder Andrey Santos.