Would World Cup Winner Enzo Fernandez Be Worth The Money For Chelsea?

Enzo Fernandez was undoubtedly one of the breakout stars of the 2022 World Cup with the young midfielder a key part of the team that went all the way in Qatar. It is therefore unsurprising that a number of Europe’s biggest clubs are reportedly interested in signing Fernandez. What is surprising, however, is the money being put on the table for the 21-year-old.

It was only six months ago that Fernandez made the move to Benfica from River Plate. The youngster has only made 13 league appearances for the Portuguese club, yet there is a growing sense that he will depart the Estadio da Luz in the January transfer window with Chelsea believed to be leading the pursuit.

Fernandez would cost €120m due to the release clause written into his contract with Benfica. This would be an astonishing fee for a player who has limited experience of elite level European soccer, but the fact Chelsea are considering paying it says something about their desperation to rebuild their midfield.

Graham Potter is still getting his feet under the desk at Stamford Bridge with the former Brighton boss getting to grips with the squad he inherited from Thomas Tuchel. Defensively, Chelsea have invested a lot of money in new additions – see Marc Cucurella, Wesley Fofana and Kalidou Koulibaly – while Raheem Sterling also arrived from Manchester City in the summer.

In midfield, though, there are still clear deficiencies. Jorginho is out of contract at the end of the season while N’Golo Kante’s injury record continues to be a concern. If Potter is to achieve success as Chelsea manager, he will almost certainly need to rebuild his unit in the centre of the pitch and this is where Fernandez is seen as an option.

Liverpool, Manchester United and Real Madrid have also been linked with a move for the Argentinean since the conclusion of the 2022 World Cup, but Chelsea’s need for a player of Fernandez’s mould might be greatest. His energy and ability to carry the ball would certainly be useful for Potter.

For Argentina, Fernandez played as part of a midfield trio or as one half of a double pivot at the 2022 World Cup. Just like Lionel Scaloni, Potter likes to shift the shape of his central unit from match-to-match depending on the challenge and the tactical profile of the opposition. Fernandez is intelligent enough to handle this.

On the ball, Fernandez is creative. He works quickly with possession and also has the physical attributes to handle the speed of the PremierPINC
League. Fernandez looks to be a good fit for Potter’s Chelsea. Now, though, the Blues must weigh up whether or not the 2022 World Cup winner would be worth the outlay.