Benfica manager expecting Fernandez stay amid fresh Chelsea links

Benfica manager Roger Schmidt has reiterated his belief that Enzo Fernandez will stay at the club, despite claims that Chelsea are reigniting their pursuit of the Argentine.

Graham Potter's side relentlessly pursued a deal for the 22-year-old earlier in the window, but they were knocked back by the Primeira Liga giants, who demanded that his €120m (£105.6m) release clause was paid in full.

Chelsea were supposedly prepared to fork out the nine-figure sum, but they clashed with Benfica over the structure of the payment, having wanted to settle the fee in instalments.

As a result, talks broke down, and Schmidt ruled out the possibility of the in-demand South American leaving Benfica before the January transfer window shut.

However, . . .