Chelsea are said to be preparing a second bid for Benfica’s Enzo Fernandez.
According to recent reports in Portugal, Chelsea FC is set to make a new offer for S.L. Benfica midfielder Enzo Fernandez before the end of the transfer window. The offer is rumored to be in the range of £87 million, including players as part of the deal. However, it is not yet known which players Chelsea plans to include in the offer.
The 22years old world cup winning star was named the best young player of the competition and has caught the attention of top European clubs.
Sources close to Chelsea have revealed that officials including Paul Winstanley and Christopher Vivell have been in secret negotiations with Benfica in recent weeks. However, it remains uncertain whether Benfica will even consider the proposal, as the club’s president, Rui Costa, has been firm in his demands for the full €120 million release clause for Fernandez.
Chelsea’s reluctance to trigger the release clause is likely due to concerns over Financial Fair Play regulations. January is the final window where Chelsea can spread the costs of a transfer over a longer contract before UEFA changes the rules to allow a maximum of five years for amortization. As a result, Chelsea would be wise to try and secure as many of their summer targets as possible in the remaining days of the transfer window.