Chelsea
are preparing to give Enzo Fernandez his medical in Portugal ahead of a
Premier League record £105m deal as the club race to meet Tuesday's 11pm
transfer deadline.
Sky Sports News understand club officials are in Lisbon as they work to get
a deal over the line.
Chelsea have told Benfica they are prepared to pay his £105.85m (€120m)
release clause.
The Argentinian World Cup-winner has informed Benfica again he wants to join
Chelsea today.
Chelsea want to structure the payments in instalments as paying in one go
has financial fair play and tax implications.
Carragher: Chelsea's approach feels
scattergun
Sky Sports' Jamie Carragher on Chelsea's approach in the transfer market
under new owner Todd Boehly:
"It feels a bit scattergun, we thought that in the summer, I do think there
is obviously a plan about what they want to do in the future," he told Sky
Sports News.
"I would be really interested to know what the manager's private thoughts
are as it feels like he has just come into this club and players are just
coming in left, right and centre and he has to build and something and
create some sort of team.
"He will have great players, but can you create that sort of team ethic and
bond that all great teams need in the future? But if you are a Chelsea fan,
it is really exciting. Todd Boehly has come in and put his money where his
mouth is and he wants to get Chelsea right back to the top."
Merson questions Fernandez fee
Sky Sports' Paul Merson on Chelsea's pursuit of Enzo Fernandez:
"I don't really like buying players on the back of World Cups. You need more
than that. But he was outstanding. It's a lot of money.
"This league is like no other league in the world, it's so difficult. You
have to take a chance along the way. Can he produce what he produced at the
World Cup? Only time will tell."
Analysis: What Fernandez will bring to
Chelsea
Sky Sports' Ron Walker:
"Fernandez's attributes make it clear how he can help. Still only halfway
through his first season with Benfica, he has racked up the second-most
assists in the Primeira Liga, and created 30 chances for his team-mates -
some of them particularly eye-catching, and a stunning pinpoint set-up for
Goncalo Ramos against Sporting earlier this month perhaps the pick of the
bunch.
"It is that kind of playmaking potential which had Manchester City and Real
Madrid interested in bringing him in from boyhood side River Plate last
summer before he settled on a move to Lisbon.
"No-one in the Portuguese top flight has made more passes than the
Argentine, and if he does prove to replace Jorginho at Stamford Bridge, he
will also provide something extra in the final third where he tops the
charts for passes too.
"Should Chelsea want to play with a midfield two, he would offer a better
option there too. Fernandez has already taken responsibility without the
ball at Benfica, slotting into an anchorman role regularly as required. He
has been one of the league's top tacklers, and only 10 players across the
division have won the ball back more in the middle third despite his
considerable output further up the pitch."
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