Chelsea could make ‘huge signing’ in £106m star at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea would be completing a ‘huge signing’ if they managed to bring Benfica midfielder Enzo Fernandez to Stamford Bridge, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

Graham Potter’s interest in Fernandez has been confirmed in the last few days, and the Blues are now believed to be inching closer to the signing.

Chelsea Transfer News – Enzo Fernandez

Chelsea appear to be leading the race for the Argentinian, with transfer guru Fabrizio Romano recently confirming that they are in direct talks with Benfica, who are demanding his full £106m release clause is met if they are to agree to a sale.

Romano also claims that the player himself has already ‘said yes’ to the transfer, dealing a blow to the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United, who are yet to launch any official bids of their own.

There were reports that Benfica president Rui Costa had suggested that they would allow the 21-year-old to leave in January, but the quotes attributed to him by DAZN are said to be ‘totally false’ in a recent statement from the club. (via 90min)

As such, it remains to be seen whether the transfer is a possibility in January, with the same report claiming Man United and Liverpool have also held talks.

What has Pete O’Rourke said about Enzo Fernandez?

O’Rourke believes that Fernandez would be a fantastic purchase, with Chelsea needing to reshape their midfield due to N’Golo Kante and Jorginho potentially leaving the club at the end of the season.

In an interview with GIVEMESPORT, O’Rourke said: “It would be a huge signing, I think we all know that Chelsea do need to reinvent that midfield of theirs.

“Jorginho is out of contract in the summer, and N’Golo Kante is out of contract in the summer, so both of those players could leave, so I think fresh legs and new impetus in that midfield is needed.”

How much would Enzo Fernandez improve Chelsea?

The starlet is a forward-thinking central-midfielder, always looking to advance the ball up the field, as indicated by an average of 9.5 progressive passes per 90 over the past year, placing him in in the 99th percentile compared to his positional peers, as per FBref.

This is a big increase on the figure of 5.4 averaged by Jorginho in that time period, while Fernandez is a constant threat in the opposition box, with 1.92 touches in the attacking penalty area per 90, compared to just 0.47 from the Italian.

While the former River Plate man would be likely to have a largely attacking focus in the Chelsea team, he has also displayed his defensive abilities by averaging 2.51 tackles per 90, only a slight decrease on the 2.98 per 90 from Kante in the last year.

Reporter Roy Nemer has previously described Fernandez as a ‘game changer‘, and that is exactly what the well-rounded midfielder could be for Potter’s side in their race for the top four.

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