Manchester United face an uphill battle to lure Benfica midfielder Enzo Fernández to Old Trafford.
During the World Cup, United’s links with Fernández intensified. The 21-year-old won the tournament with Argentina and even picked up the Young Player of the Tournament award.
Chelsea’s interest in Fernández has also been piqued, with co-owner Todd Boehly keen on taking the young Argentinian to Stamford Bridge.
It has been widely reported that Chelsea want to overpay Fernandez’s €120m release clause to the tune of €130m and then distribute the payments so that they are made in installments.
Benfica, on the other hand, expects a one-time payment of the sum of 120 million euros.
Fernández himself has given his nod to Chelsea, to suggest that he is interested in moving to the London club.
Correio de Manha reports that Fernández traveled to Argentina for New Year’s Eve, in direct defiance of Benfica’s directive not to make the trip to Argentina.
After his team’s 3-0 loss to Braga in which the player put in a disappointing performance, he boarded a private plane to Argentina with his coach Uriel Pérez.
Portuguese publication A Bola endorses this report, conveying that his open challenge to Roger Schmidt’s board could be an indication that the player is determined and moving to England.
A Bola says: “It is still not a fully closed decision, but at this moment it is increasingly unlikely that Enzo Fernández will stay in Roger Schmidt’s squad.”
“At the same time, the idea that the midfielder will be on his way to Chelsea is strong.”
“The president of Benfica spoke with the player at the beginning of last week, trying to make him aware of the importance of staying in the team, even acknowledging that he paid him a bonus to continue, but all the data points to the idea. that Enzo wants to leave now”.
If United’s interest in Fernández progresses, they will face an uphill battle to beat Chelsea if a January deal is forced with the Portuguese club.
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