MY ACCOUNT
World Cup star Enzo Fernandez is Chelsea’s latest big-money transfer target.
Argentina international Fernandez, 21, picked up the Young Player Award in Qatar after playing a pivotal role in helping his country lift their third World Cup crown.
Those displays were enough to convince the Blues to pay the midfielder’s reported £112million release clause to lure the prized asset from Benfica — exceeding the fee shelled out to bring Romelu Lukaku back to West London in August 2021.
But would Fernandez’s arrival be enough to lift Graham Potter’s men from their current struggles? Ahead of Chelsea’s home clash with Manchester City, we look at what the Buenos Aires native would bring to Stamford Bridge.
A star in Qatar
While known as an emerging talent at Benfica, Fernandez’s dazzling performances in Qatar saw him truly announce himself to the world.
With just three international caps prior to the tournament, Fernandez started Argentina’s first two group games from the bench, scoring a terrific curling strike in the second of those appearances, against Mexico.
After that moment of brilliance, he was immediately installed into Lionel Scaloni’s XI for La Albiceleste’s final group clash with Poland and that is where he stayed for the remainder of the tournament as the South American giants secured a memorable crown — beating previous champions France in the final.
Thriving alongside Lionel Messi as a classy deep-lying playmaker throughout their triumphant campaign, the Argentina skipper lavished praise on his young compatriot.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner said: “I’m not surprised by Enzo. I know him and I see him train every day. He deserves it because he’s a spectacular player.”
Midfield maestro
Benfica paid less than £10m to sign Fernandez from River Plate last summer and he has since started all 14 of the Eagles’ games in the Portuguese top flight, as well as a further five in the Champions League.
Three goals and five assists this term are impressive for a deep-lying midfielder and that is not the only area in which Fernandez has thrived this season at club level.
Featuring in a double pivot alongside Florentino Luis, Benfica’s No13 dictates play with his passing ability and is given the freedom to advance forward.
And as was shown on numerous occasions in the World Cup, he is not afraid to get stuck into his defensive duties — regularly winning back possession in the centre of the park.
Potter’s problems
The dynamic creator’s arrival seems, on paper, to be just what the doctor ordered for Chelsea, with a dysfunctional midfield a particular criticism levelled at the Blues this term.
A revamp in the centre of the park has been needed for years in West London, with Jorginho and N’Golo Kante both the wrong side of 30, prone to injuries and in the final six months of their respective contracts.
Fernandez ranks highest for passes completed per 90 minutes in the Primeira Liga (94.9), which suggests he will have no problem taking to Potter’s style of play.
But it is his ability to progress the ball into the final third that is perhaps what stands him apart most from Chelsea’s current crop of midfielders.
And while we are arguably yet to see it at Chelsea, Potter has earned a reputation for developing young talents into stars and there seems no reason why Fernandez would not be the former Brighton boss’ next success story.
World Cup premium
That said, the reported £112m fee Chelsea are willing to pay for his services are undoubtedly a huge amount to spend on a player with just half a season’s experience in European football.
That is the indicated sum Benfica would reluctantly accept to let their summer recruit go — and one that saw previous interested parties Liverpool and Manchester United look elsewhere.
Blues owner Todd Boehly has shown no reluctance in sanctioning big-money moves since taking over, hence why they now appear frontrunners for Fernandez.
After spending upwards of £250m in the summer, he has not wasted any time in January — the capture of David Datro Fofana, 20, from Molde is already sealed for £8.6m and Monaco defender Benoit Badiashile is also said to be on his way for more than £30m.
Fernandez’s fee dwarfs both of those deals though and would be by far the biggest of the American’s tenure so far, topping the £70m spent on Wesley Fofana.
While therefore a huge risk, the Benfica ace has shown for club and country that the rewards could be massive if the Premier League giants get his development right.
