Fernandez can face Man City on Wednesday, assuming the move is completed.
After a dull 1-1 draw with relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest, Chelsea supporters did not receive the new year’s present they had hoped for. Graham Potter has not won consecutive league games since his first three games in charge in October, and as a result, the gap to the top four teams has widened to seven points.
Even so, Erling Haaland has scored more goals than the entire team combined, and pressure is growing as the team prepares to play a challenging January schedule without Reece James. The fact that the transfer market is once again open and fresh signings may be made is a saving grace during this time.
Benoit Badiashile is anticipated to undergo his physical this week in preparation for a potential £32.7 million move from Monaco, while Todd Boehly has continued to move swiftly in the recruiting department, seeking to secure a deal for 20-year-old David Datro Fofana. At the end of the season, Christopher Nkunku has already committed to joining.
Chelsea’s new addition is expected to go right away since Graham Potter has a £13.3 million budget. loan for Joao Felix
There is still much work to be done, though, as James needs a challenger in addition to a midfielder and perhaps an additional attacker.
However, a move for Enzo Fernandez will be one of the transactions that receives the most attention. Since he and Argentina won the World Cup, the 21-year-old has been extensively pursued, and a contract is reportedly not too far off.
A €120 million (£106 million) release clause exists for the midfielder for Benfica. London is aware that Chelsea wants to move through with the payment in order to close the transaction as soon as possible and ahead of the competition. Chelsea will be eager to move quickly since it now seems like there is only one person left in the race to finish this.
Manchester City are up next on January 5 and then the Blues play Pep Guardiola’s men again in the FA Cup just days later. With a worrying lack of presence against Forest, the midfield looks to be the most pressing area for attention and there are faint hopes that Fernandez could join before the end of the week.
In order to be registered to face Manchester City on Thursday, things would have to move at lightening speed, though. According to Premier League rules the deadline for signing a player and having them play is ’12 noon on the last working day before the date of the first league match in which the club making the application intends him to play.’
This means that Fernandez has until Wednesday at 12pm to sign for Chelsea if they want him to play against City.
Rules go on to say, “save that the international transfer certificate and evidence of eligibility to take up employment in the United Kingdom (in both cases if applicable) may be provided thereafter (but must be provided before the player is eligible to play for a club in a league match).”
There are still so big steps to finalise before this can become a reality and it isn’t a likely first game for the midfielder, the FA Cup game may also come too soon with things needing to be wrapped up by 12pm on Friday for that.
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