Benfica manager Roger Schmidt has confessed he does not know whether World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez played his final game for the club on Friday.
Despite suggestions that he could start on the bench, Fernandez played 89 minutes of the surprise 3-0 defeat to Braga on the same day as 90min revealed he had told Benfica he wants to move to Chelsea this window.
Benfica are adamant that Fernandez will not be sold for anything less than his €120m release clause, which must be paid up front, but Chelsea are working on a deal which would see them exceed that fee and pay in instalments - the same approach they used in their chase of RB Leipzig's Christopher Nkunku, who will join in the summer.
After the game, Schmidt told reporters: "I don't know if it was his last game for Benfica. He's an excellent player, he's been performing fantastically, he's identified with the club.
"Sometimes things happen and players have to make decisions. We'll see what happens in the coming weeks."
Sources have told 90min that Chelsea are confident they will be able to agree a deal with Benfica. Personal terms have already been agreed in principle with agent Jorge Mendes, who is also working to convince the Portuguese side to negotiate the sale of a player who cost them just €10m in the summer.
Despite their tough stance, Benfica are understood to be looking at replacements for Fernandez, with Velez Sarsfield's Maximo Perrone under consideration.
Source : 90min