Chelsea are expected to approach Benfica with another proposal for Enzo Fernandez before the transfer window closes.
The Blues made the Argentine midfielder a priority target before the January transfer window opened and held several rounds of talks with Benfica over a deal.
That resulted in frustration on the part of Benfica.
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“We do not want to sell him, neither I nor the president,” said head coach Roger Schmidt.
“We know that there is a release clause and if he wants to leave and someone pays that clause, then maybe we lose the player.
“There is a club that wants him, they tried to attract him, but they know that they can only have him if they pay the clause.
It’s disrespectful to all of us, to Benfica, they’re driving the player crazy, they pretend they want to pay the clause and then they want to negotiate.
Central midfield is a position Chelsea want to strengthen before the end of the window.
However, the Blues are once again set to test Benfica’s resolve over Fernandez.
Chelsea have spent significantly this January with Benoit Badiashile, Mykhailo Mudryk, Noni Madueke, Joao Felix, and David Datro Fofana all added to the first-team squad.
