Chelsea are closing in on an Enzo Fernandes deal as Benfica talks progress

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helsea is stuck in negotiations over the structure of a club record £112m deal to sign Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernandes from Benfica.

The 21-year-old has widely agreed personal terms with Chelsea and failed to even show up to Benfica training in a bid to force a move to Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea want to pay Fernandes’ transfer fee in three instalments of £37.5m, as they try to comply with UEFA’s financial fair play rules.

After spending £273m in the summer, Chelsea are among four Premier League clubs on UEFA’s financial watch list.

Chelsea’s previous record signing is the £97m paid for Romelu Lukaku.

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With scrutiny of their transfer activity, Chelsea want to orchestrate a deal for Fernandes across three annual payments.

Fernandes was one of the superstars of the World Cup and Chelsea identified him, along with Judd Bellingham, as a player who could become a mainstay in their midfield for years to come.

After playing a key role in helping Argentina win the World Cup, Fernández returned to Portugal and played for Benfica in their La Liga match against Braga on 30 December.

But he returned to Argentina without permission to celebrate New Year’s Eve and has not yet returned, missing training twice last week. He is expected to be sanctioned by Benfica and is believed to have played his last game for the club he joined from River Plate last summer.

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Best Young Player Enzo Fernandez’s reaction after the final

All parties are keen to resolve the negotiations by next week. Should talks collapse, that would leave Chelsea time to scout alternative targets such as Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister and Ajax’s Edson Alvarez.

Benfica is reluctant to take any fee for Fernandes in instalments, given that River Plate is due 25 per cent of the total transfer fee for his next move, but Chelsea are hopeful a compromise can be found.

Chelsea are also close to a £35m deal to sign Monaco defender Benoit Badiachel, having already completed the signing of Molde striker David Datro Fofana for around £10m.

The Blues are also close to a deal to sign 18-year-old Vasco da Gama midfielder Andre Santos.

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