Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thinks Chelsea value Enzo Fernandez lower than his release clause
Speaking to Betway (h/t Football.London), former Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thinks that the club values Benfica midfielder Enzo Fernandez lower than his release clause.
Chelsea have been incessantly linked with the Argentine midfielder in the last few weeks. Daily Mail reported that the Portuguese side rejected a £112m offer from the Blues as they want the player’s release clause of £106m to be paid.
Express reported that the reason behind Benfica’s need to ask specifically for the clause to be paid is that the midfielder’s previous club River Plate is due 25% of the transfer fee.
But, Hasselbaink thinks/informs that the club does not value him at that price. Here’s what he said (h/t Football.London):
“It’s up to Chelsea whether they are willing to pay over £100 million for Enzo Fernandez. I don’t think they are going to pay it. My information is that Chelsea don’t want to pay that amount and that it’s going to be a lot less.
“I think Enzo wants to come to Chelsea and I think he’s ready to do that but Chelsea value him at a lot less than the rumoured £105 million. It’s up to Benfica if they’re going to let him go for less.”
Whatever the complications around the deal are, it is clear that Chelsea are interested in signing Fernandez. The Telegraph reported that manager Graham Potter has backed the club’s attempts to sign him.
We just hope that the deal is done when it is needed to be. The Argentina international, who has had an excellent six months playing for Benfica and the national team in the World Cup, has qualities that can upgrade what the Blues have in their midfield right now.
He is a great passer, can mix his passing up range-wise, is good at duels, reads the game well defensively and has a goal or two in him from midfield.
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- Chelsea will persist with Graham Potter even if he fails to deliver a top-four finish
Chelsea lack someone like that in their midfield this season. N’Golo Kante was a master of that, but his injury issues have made the team suffer. Moreover, Fernandez is just 21, so signing him and paying the high fee would be justified given he can offer more than just two-three years of elite service for the club.