Transfer Centre

Roger Schmidt admits Enzo Fernandez may have played last Benfica game

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 01 January 2023

Benfica manager Roger Schmidt admits that Chelsea-linked midfielder Enzo Fernandez may have played his final game for the Portuguese club.

Benfica manager Roger Schmidt has admitted that he "does not know" if in-demand Argentinian midfielder Enzo Fernandez will play another game for the club.

The 21-year-old was named the Best Young Player of the 2022 World Cup after scoring one goal and setting up one more in seven games to help La Albiceleste win their third title.

Now regarded as one of the most in-demand midfielders in Europe, Fernandez is thought to be the subject of interest from Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United and Real Madrid.

Chelsea are believed to have made the most progress in their efforts to sign the former River Plate man, who has supposedly already agreed personal terms with the Blues.

However, with Fernandez under contract at Benfica for another four and a half years, the Eagles are reluctant to negotiate and have pointed to his €120m (£106.4m) release clause.

Benfica's Enzo Fernandez pictured on August 5, 2022 © Reuters

Nevertheless, Chelsea have supposedly indicated a willingness to fork out a nine-figure sum to sign Fernandez, and Schmidt has not been able to guarantee that the Argentine will don the Benfica jersey again.

Speaking after his side's 3-0 defeat to Braga on Friday, where Fernandez started and completed 89 minutes of the game, Schmidt said: "I don't know if that was the last match of Enzo.

"I think Enzo is a great player. Since he arrived at Benfica, he's played fantastic football. Also, as a person, he's completely identified with the club.

"Like I said before the match, sometimes things in football happen and then players have to make decisions. We will see what happens [in the] next weeks."

Benfica paid just €12m (£10.6m) to sign Fernandez from River Plate in the summer transfer window, and the midfielder has three goals and five assists to show from 25 games for the Portuguese giants.

Enzo Fernandez celebrates scoring for Benfica on August 5, 2022 © Reuters

Should Chelsea fail in their efforts to prise Fernandez away from Benfica, the Blues are thought to have drawn up a four-man list of alternative targets, including his compatriot Alexis Mac Allister.

Borussia Dortmund's Jude Bellingham is also understood to be on Chelsea's radar, while West Ham United's Declan Rice, Brighton & Hove Albion's Moises Caicedo and Southampton's Romeo Lavia have been linked with moves to the capital.

Jorginho and N'Golo Kante have now both entered the final six months of their Chelsea contracts and are free to open talks with foreign clubs, but talks with the latter over a new deal are said to be progressing well.

Graham Potter's side have already been active in the winter market, securing deals for Molde striker David Datro Fofana and Vasco da Gama midfielder Andrey Santos, but only the former's move has been made official so far.

The Blues are also said to have agreed a £35m deal to sign Monaco centre-back Benoit Badiashile, who was left out of Les Monegasques' squad for Sunday's Ligue 1 win over Brest.