Roger Schmidt confirms Liverpool target Enzo Fernandez will stay at Benfica
According to Liverpool Echo, SL Benfica manager Roger Schmidt has confirmed that Enzo Fernandez, a target for Liverpool, will not leave the club in the January transfer window amid interest from Chelsea.
Enzo was one of the standout players of the FIFA World Cup 2022 and guided Argentina to win the coveted trophy. In the process, he was also adjusted Young Player of the Tournament, a big feat considering only Pele and Kylian Mbappe have been two players before to earn the accolade while being World Cup winners.
As many predicted, there was severe interest in the player following his performances and many top clubs from England, including Liverpool, expressed their interest in signing the Argentine ace.
Enzo had joined Benfica just six months prior from River Plate and as such the Portuguese club were in no urgency of selling their prized asset.
It looked like Chelsea had marched a mile on its rivals by communicating that they are willing to pay the player’s €120m release clause and subsequently even agreed to personal terms with the player.
However, when it felt like the Argentine could be on his way to Stamford Bridge, the deal collapsed and now Schmidt has confirmed that Enzo will stay with the club.
“I’m glad this question is closed and now we can focus on football again. 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.”
It is certainly good news for Benfica that the midfielder is staying but also good news for other interested parties like us, who would now be in a position to make a move for the player in the summer transfer window.
A pretty common fact nowadays that we need to revamp our midfield to bring back the glory days and someone of the ilk of Enzo can provide us with exactly that. At 21 years of age, he has still not entered his prime and could go levels above under the guidance of Jurgen Klopp and his team.
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We have been crying out for a replacement for Georginio Wiljnaldum, who is capable of playing efficiently at both ends and Enzo, with his performances at the World Cup, has shown he is more than capable of performing that role.
It isn’t a controversial take to say that Benfica have been more than happy to sell players if it is profitable to them. Hence, we have to keep a track of Fernandez, hope that his World Cup dies out, and then strike when there isn’t a lot of buzz and competition surrounding him… easier said than done, though.
