Chelsea Ready Enzo Fernandez Transfer Bid

Chelsea are ready to pay Benfica a club-record fee to bring World Cup-winning midfielder Enzo Fernandes to the Premier League next month, according to journalist Duncan Castles, who learned from renowned agent Jorge Mendes.

New Chelsea bosses have made Benfica an offer in excess of 127 million euros for the Argentina international. Benfica are currently seeking to win the Primeira Liga title and the Champions League round of 16 for the first time in four seasons, and they do not want to jeopardize the whole season by selling Fernandes in the middle of the season.

Chelsea want the midfielder to push for an immediate move. Fernandes' performances at the World Cup in Qatar, and his first half of a season in European football, have made the 21-year-old a replacement for Bellingham on the minds of major clubs.

Liverpool, Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid are all keen to move Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund in the summer, with Benfica confident they can keep Fernandes until the end of the season and still fetch more than €80m for the player.

Fernandes returned to Lisbon on Tuesday and will discuss the Chelsea fee with his current employers. Under the contract, Benfica will pay River Plate 25 percent of the midfielder's next transfer fee. Benfica are understood to be keeping an open mind on the terms of a summer transfer.