Watch: Fabrizio Romano breaks down Chelsea’s ‘crazy’ last-gasp Enzo Fernandez bid
Fabrizio Romano has broken down the latest in Chelsea’s dramatic deadline-day push to sign Enzo Fernandez from Benfica.
Having chased the highly-rated 21-year-old Argentina international throughout the winter transfer window, Chelsea have made one last push to sign the player by launching a €120million bid for Fernandez.
It appeared that any potential deal had collapsed earlier in the month after Benfica made it clear they were holding firm for the midfielder’s release clause.
But it appears that Todd Boehly is willing to sanction a massive transfer fee that would meet the World Cup winner’s release clause. But the ball remains in Benfica’s court – as they decide whether to accept Chelsea’s proposal to pay in instalments.
Chelsea appear light in midfield, while the news of Jorginho’s likely move to Arsenal in the coming hours would mean there’s another vacancy to fill.
Transfer insider Romano will be among the busiest men in football today as he brings us the latest on all the last-gasp approach to sign Fernandez.
“It was a really tense Monday for Chelsea on the Enzo Fernandez deal,” began the Italian reporter in his latest YouTube update.
“Now it’s time to understand what happens on the deadline day because Chelsea wanted to get the deal almost done. I say almost because of course they were not expected to complete the medical and sign the documents on Monday.
“But they wanted to have the final agreement with Benfica on Monday night. And then what happened? After a really positive day of conversations between Chelsea, agents and Benfica, they were waiting for the final step – he green light from Benfica president Manuel Rui Costa.
“During the night, there was still no green light from Benfica. Manuel Rui Costa, after meeting with Chelsea and discussing with Chelsea a deal – through intermediaries too, of course – during Monday, what happened, is that during the night they had a meeting, an internal meeting with other Benfica people to decide.
“He didn’t approve the deal yet. I said yet, because conversations will continue on deadline day between Chelsea and Benfica to see if there’s a way to get this Enzo Fernandez deal done.
“It’s been more than four weeks of negotiating with some moments really tense, some moments really positive, with some weeks at complete standby. So, a really difficult deal, but what’s going on at the moment is Manuel Rui Costa has to decide and at the moment there is still no green light.
“So it was a tense night of negotiations, because Chelsea wanted to get everything done during the night. And then bring Enzo to London for medical tests. But they are still waiting for Rui Costa to approve. Remember, Chelsea bid €120million paid in instalments.”
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