Chelsea receive major Enzo Fernandez update after official transfer message

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Cameron Smith | Digital Content Producer

Accredited sports journalist covering football since 2020

Chelsea have inadvertently received a major update on the future of Enzo Fernandez after Real Madrid president Florentino Perez confirmed that he will send a €150 million bid for a superstar who doesn’t play in the Premier League next week.

Fernandez, 25, has been heavily linked with a Stamford Bridge exit in recent months and it’s understood that he is eager to explore his options when he returns from the World Cup with Argentina.

The former Benfica man heads into this summer’s tournament looking to help his country become the first nation since Brazil in 1958 and 1962 to win back-to-back World Cups, but rumours of his club future are likely to bubble away under the surface throughout his exploits in North America.

Fernandez hinted that he would be open to leaving Chelsea on a number of occasions after their 8-2 aggregate defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League last-16 earlier this year, and reports have confirmed that he would like to depart west London before the start of next season.

Real Madrid have been heavily linked with the 25-year-old for several months and Fernandez himself is keen to test himself at the Bernabeu. However, the aforementioned Perez, who will face Enrique Riquelme in a presidential election on Sunday, has potentially suggested that a move for the Chelsea star won’t take place this summer.

Speaking to ‘Horizonte’ (via Marca) Perez said: “I have some news to share. On Tuesday, I'm going to make a significant offer to a Champions League club for a top player. It would be the largest transfer fee Real Madrid has ever paid. It would be around €150 million. A hint? I can't give you any, I'm just hinting at what we're going to do.

“[Michael] Olise is a great player, but he's not Olise. He's not [Jeremy] Doku either … We're going to make a significant offer, at least €150m. Ideally, he'd be a midfielder or forward. And he's not Erling Haaland. And he's not from the Premier League. And the first thing we'll do is talk to the club. It's a signing meant to generate excitement, because that's what it's all about, generating excitement.”

Perez added: “You remember I brought Luis Figo, David Beckham, Ronaldo, Kaka. This kind of top, top name. It’s that level of player. The excitement will be crazy. This is just a starting bid. It could go up.”

Enzo Fernandez could stay at Chelsea

With Perez confirming that his imminent €150m transfer bid will not be for a Premier League player, it potentially rules out a move for Fernandez this summer entirely.

Real Madrid have already finalised agreements to sign Denzel Dumfries and Ibrahima Konate, and with a further €150m possibly being spent on a superstar midfielder or forward, Los Blancos are unlikely to have the funds available to sign Fernandez as well.

Chelsea will reportedly demand a fee of at least €120m to sell the Argentina international during the upcoming window and unless Real Madrid sanction a number of sales to increase their budget, they may well be unable to purchase Fernandez before Deadline Day.

Fellow suitors Manchester City have earmarked Elliot Anderson and Sandro Tonali as their two preferred midfield targets, instead of Fernandez, while it remains to be seen whether PSG will look to act on previous interest in the Chelsea star.

As a result, there is a very real chance that Fernandez could be forced to remain at Chelsea for at least the 2026-27 season.