Chelsea is reportedly set to demand a fee around £120 million ($161 million) if Enzo Fernández attempts to leave the club this summer, according to sources cited by ESPN.
The 25-year-old midfielder is weighing his options after Chelsea’s disappointing tenth-place finish in the Premier League, which means they have failed to qualify for European competition next season.
While Chelsea anticipates that he will join preseason training after the World Cup, there is growing speculation that Fernández may formally request a transfer.
As an integral player for the team, he is under contract with Chelsea until 2032, and the club is keen to retain him.
Any clubs interested in Fernández would need to surpass the £107 million ($144 million) Chelsea paid Benfica for him in February 2023.
Reports suggest that Real Madrid has shown interest in Fernández, but the transfer fee is a significant hurdle, especially with the ongoing presidential elections affecting the club’s transfer strategy. Manchester City is also reportedly monitoring the situation.
While Chelsea is not urgently needing to sell, transferring Fernández could aid in funding a rebuild under new manager Xabi Alonso, though it’s unclear if Alonso and Fernández have communicated thus far.
Alonso’s tenure at Stamford Bridge officially begins on July 1, following the agreement of a four-year contract.
Fernández expressed dissatisfaction in an interview with ESPN Argentina after Chelsea’s Champions League exit to Paris Saint-Germain in March.
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He was subsequently benched for two matches after he mentioned during the international break that he would “like to live in Spain, I really like Madrid,” which added fuel to the speculation regarding a potential move to Real Madrid.
Fernández’s agent, Javier Pastore, criticized the decision as “completely unfair,” stating that while the player accepted the club’s decision, “we don’t understand the punishment because he didn’t mention any club or indicate that he wants to leave Chelsea.”
During his time at Chelsea, Fernández has scored 19 goals and provided 17 assists across 117 Premier League appearances.