Chelsea Ready To Trigger Enzo Fernandez £105m Release Clause To Sign The Midfielder In January

Chelsea are prepared to trigger the £105million release clause of Benfica's rising talent Enzo Fernandez, according to reports.

Fernandez has emerged as one of football's most promising talents after his impressive cameos for Argentina saw him win the Young Player of the Tournament award at the World Cup.

And - with a number of Premier League clubs interested - it appears the Blues have taken the first steps in their attempts to sign Fernandez by triggering the huge buyout clause in his contract with the Portuguese giants.

According to the Evening Standard, the Premier League side are ready to trigger the £105 clause as they try to see off competition from Liverpool and Newcastle, the latter reportedly having a bid rejected already.

The midfielder arrived back to Benfica's training ground yesterday and has already had conversations with club president Rui Costa about potential plans to stay.

Costa, according to outlet Record, is hopeful that the promise of winning their domestic league and a challenge for the Champions League trophy will be enough to convince the star. 

Fernandez emerged as a transfer target for Graham Potter as the Chelsea boss looks to reduce the average age in his current squad.

 As part of an overhaul of Chelsea under the new owner Todd Boehly, the London club have been focusing on investing in young players, at the expense of those who are older and more experienced. 

With midfield veterans such as Jorginho and N'Golo Kante likely to be departing Stamford Bridge in the summer, Potter and Boehly have turned their attention to Fernandez - who won the World Cup with Argentina in Qatar earlier this month. 

He was named Young Player of the Tournament during the international showpiece, and also got his name on the scoresheet twice - once with an own goal, and a second when he scored at the right end against Mexico. 

As part of Chelsea's continual eye glaring into the future, the club are also close to sealing a £20m deal to sign 18-year-old central midfielder Andrey Santos from Vasco da Gama. 

Source: Dailymail.co