Enzo Fernández to Chelsea update provides Liverpool with a chance

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Enzo Fernández to Chelsea won’t be happening, says Benfica manager Roger Schmidt. It’s good news for Liverpool.

Enzo Fernández created a lot of interest in him at the World Cup as he won the Best Young Player award. Chelsea appeared the most likely to get him, with talk that they’d pay his £103m release clause.

At least, that’s what they led Benfica to believe. Per Record, though, they turned the player’s head and then backed down from paying the clause, instead wishing to negotiate.

That angered Benfica greatly. Manager Roger Schmidt openly called the transfer pursuit ‘disrespectful’ in a press conference, in fact.

And now it seems that any deal is dead. Schmidt again discussed Enzo on Wednesday where he claimed the matter was ‘closed’.

“I’m glad this question is closed and now we can focus on football again,” said Schmidt, per the BBC. “It was very important for Enzo to return to play with his team and for Benfica.

“Rumours of proposals and opportunities, that’s part of football. The important thing is how the player and the club deal with the situation. It was all very open and sincere.

“I never had any doubts about his character, personality and attitude. An extraordinary player who loves to play football and for Benfica.”

Enzo Fernández to Chelsea is off

This is unquestionably good news for Liverpool. The Reds have also been linked with Enzo – from long before the World Cup.

More recently, Marca and O Jogo both claim Liverpool want him. Fabrizio Romano believes the sole reason they didn’t move this month, in fact, was because of interest in Jude Bellingham.

But that interest is exactly why this is good news for Liverpool. Not only do they get a backup option should any deal for the Englishman go sideways, but it strengthens their negotiating position to have an alternative.

This is all very positive, then. Liverpool weren’t going to move in January but the summer is a very real possibility. As long as Enzo is still with Benfica, of course.