Chelsea have finally reached an agreement with Benfica for the transfer of Enzo Fernandez.
The Blues have been tailing the World Cup winner all month, and having failed with their initial attempts to sign him earlier in the window, Chelsea have ‘not given up’ on landing Enzo Fernandez.
All along, Benfica have been insistent that they would not allow the 22-year-old to leave the club for less than his €120 million (£105m) release clause.
Chelsea lodged a bid that matched that clause yesterday, though they have been in negotiations with the Portuguese side regarding the structure of a deal.
Earlier today, Sky Sports reported that Chelsea had offered to pay the €120m fee in six installments over the course of five years, though quite understandably, those terms were not acceptable to Benfica.
However, according to Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea have now reached an agreement with the Primeira Liga club.
It has been reported that Fernandez has already completed a medical in Portugal, while personal terms have already been agreed upon, with the clubs now racing to complete the paperwork on the deal before the 11pm transfer deadline.
The deal, should it be completed, will set a new British transfer record, eclipsing the £100 million that Manchester City paid for Jack Grealish 18 months ago.
It would also take Chelsea’s spending in January alone to well over £300 million, having already brought in Mykhailo Mudryk, Joao Felix, Benoit Badiashille, Noni Madueke, David Datro Fofana and Andrey Santos this month, while they have also completed a deal to sign Malo Gusto from Lyon, who will join the club in the summer.
