Chelsea make new £105m bid for Benfica midfielder Enzo Fernandez ahead of transfer deadline – reports

Chelsea have made a bid of £105m for Benfica midfielder Enzo Fernandez, according to reports.

The BBC and other outlets report that a fresh offer has been made as Chelsea look to continue their huge spending spree under new American owner Todd Boehly.

The offer, equivalent to 120m euros, would make the Argentina international the most expensive footballer signed by a British team.

Chelsea have been linked with the 22-year-old World Cup winner throughout the window but had been unable to agree a fee, with Benfica reportedly only interested in a bid that would meet the player’s release clause.

Talks remain on how the deal will be structured, but it is anticipated that the two clubs will come to an agreement before the transfer window deadline at 11pm on Tuesday, January 31.

The Telegraph report that Chelsea would prefer to pay in one larger upfront payment, with another five payments of smaller amounts to follow.

Chelsea have also signed Mykhailo Mudryk from Shakhtar Donetsk, Benoit Badiashile from Monaco, David Datro Fofana from Norwegian side Molde, Andrey Santos from Vasco da Gama, and Noni Madueke from PSV on permanent deals. The club have also brought in Joao Felix on loan from Atletico Madrid.

Fernandez had missed training for Benfica previously in the transfer window when it looked like a deal was imminent, but Chelsea had a £75m offer rejected earlier in January.

A successful transfer would break the current record set by Manchester City in 2021, when they signed Jack Grealish for £100m from Aston Villa.