Enzo Fernandez: Chelsea target worth the €120m release clause

Jacque Talbot

• Updated: 24 Jan 2023 10:54 GMT
• 4 min read

Chelsea have reportedly made another approach for Benfica’s Enzo Fernandez.

The midfielder was linked to the Premier League side earlier in the window but their attempts to bring him to Stamford Bridge were rebuffed.

But that seemingly has not deterred Graham Potter’s side, who have gone in for another move for the Argentine.

Benfica remain defiant and are asking for the full amount of the player’s release clause from the Blues - some €120m - but is Fernandez’s ability deserving of such a price?

READ MORE: Football Transfer News LIVE: Chelsea still want Enzo Fernandez

A bit about the 22-year-old: he made his debut for Benfica in a Champions League third-round qualifier against FC Midtjylland in August of last year, where he scored a neat half-volley in the Portuguese side’s 4-1 win over the Danish club.

And it was just a few months later that he lifted the World Cup with his national side in Qatar, being named as the FIFA Young Player of the Tournament along the way. In such a short period, his trajectory has been phenomenal.

Enzo Fernandez: worth every penny

The midfielder is one of the most highly-rated footballers in Europe today. Some feel he is now the best player in the Primeira Liga, taking the crown from last season’s star Matheus Nunes, who’s now at Wolves.

In fact, Wolves were among the first to be linked to Fernandez, after he impressed for River Plate - with sporting director and former chief scout Matthew Hobbs heading to Argentina to secure the move. AC Milan were keen, too, but it was Benfica who nabbed the young star. But Fernandez only wanted to move from River Plate after the Copa Libertadores had finished and this became a sticking point for Milan and Wolves. It does give a huge indication of the type of character Fernandez is, though.

In terms of his footballing ability, it’s hard to label what his precise strengths are as he is so well-rounded. He can do it all. A slick passer when operating as a No.6, in more of a deep-lying playmaker role, a superb No.8 - and a brilliant tackler. For Benfica, he is placed in the double-pivot role, typically beside Florentino Luis. He is able to generate tempo and play a wide range of passes that enable Benfica players to find themselves in possession in the attacking third.

He often plays lofted balls as a switch from the left flank, heading to the feet of Joao Mario, for the attacker to latch onto and push into the box with plenty of space. That or he is able to bypass the defence entirely and feed in Goncalo Ramos for 1v1 situations with the goalkeeper.

It’s a big statement but Fernandez’s versatility in passing would have not looked out of place in the 2008–09 Barcelona era. Fernandez’s 9.30 progressive passes per 90 are in the top 99 percentile - as are his 97.32 passes attempted. But he has great press resistance as well. His tackling is 2.76 per 90 and his touches in the box is 1.70.

Further forward, Fernandez also creates 4.61 shot-creating actions per 90, 0.24 xAG - in the top 96 percentile - as well as 2.07 shots. He has scored four goals in 28 games for Benfica - averaging a goal every seven games played.

The hefty price tag will raise eyebrows, especially given Fernandez would have to seamlessly transition to the Premier League for Chelsea. But all indications so far point to him living up to the fee Benfica are asking.