The English clubs are taking one last step at the end of the market in Portugal to get three of the best players out of the I Liga: Benfica player Enzo Fernández, Sporting player Pedro Porro and Braga-born Vitinha.
Chelsea are doing everything they can to secure their 16th signing this season and their managers are willing to do (almost) anything to convince Benfica to release Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernández. Money is not a problem for those bands, so the London club even accepts the payment of the 120 million euros included in the world champion’s termination clause, but in stages and not immediately, as required by the management led by Rui Costa.
White smoke is expected over this London offensive at Luz any minute, despite the English press guaranteeing the deal was in full swing. It is certain that Enzo Fernández did gym work yesterday morning and did not go with the team to the north of Portugal, where they will face Arouca tonight (9.15 pm) in an 18th round match of the I Liga. In the preview of the game, coach Roger Schmidt admitted to be “prepared for anything” in these last hours of the market, recalling that Benfica “is not in the driver’s seat” because “the player has a clause in the contract, so if the player wants and the club pays, it is not possible to prevent the transfer.
The German coach continues to show great patience with a footballer who has been important all season. Incidentally, if Enzo Fernández’s €120 million transfer to Chelsea is confirmed, the Argentine midfielder will break the Premier League transfer record held by Manchester City, which paid €114 million to Aston Villa in 2021 to have Jack Grealish. Incidentally, in addition to the English winger, only two players cost more than 100 million euros to English clubs: Romelu Lukaku (111 million in 2021) for Chelsea and Paul Pogba (101) for Manchester United.
If Enzo is signed, Chelsea will reach the impressive £610.49 million invested in new players this season, more than half of which has been spent over the winter period alone: £328.5 million. It should be noted that the second club to invest the most in the two transfer windows of 2022/23 was Manchester United with… €240.32 million.
Pedro Porro in an impasse
On the other side of the Second Ring Road, the Spaniard Pedro Porro saw the transfer to Tottenham blocked. The impasse arose because Sporting’s SAD will have made demands regarding the method of payment of the 45 million euros, which are included in the right back’s termination clause.
Porro, who said goodbye to the Sporting supporters after the League Cup final in Leiria, will have to wait for the last hours of the winter market to see if he will still travel to England. What is certain is that the player did not train yesterday at the Academy, in Alcochete, which the lions believe was duly authorized. It should be noted that information has surfaced about Manchester City’s last-minute interest in returning Pedro Porro, something that has not yet been confirmed at the end of this edition.
Southampton attack Vitinha
Who seems to be on his way to Braga is the 22-year-old striker Vitinha Oliveira. According to news published by the English press, Southampton, bottom of the Premier League, is preparing to breach the player’s release clause, which has been set at 30 million euros.
The Portugal under-21 international, who has scored 13 goals and five assists for Braga this season, is regarded by Southampton officials as a player who could become important for the club in avoiding relegation to the Championship. After all, the Saints have scored just 17 goals in 20 Premier League games and desperately need more attacking firepower.
It should be noted that Vitinha is quite coveted during this winter market, and the president of the Minho team, António Salvador, has even rejected proposals worth 20 million euros, reminding interested parties that the striker has a contract until 2027, so will only release him for the 30 million in the contract.
Pizza in Braga, Luan in Porto
With regard to hiring, the main highlight goes to Sp. Braga, who announced the signing of Pizzi, who terminated his contract with Al Wahda of the United Arab Emirates, signing a contract valid until the end of the 2023/24 season.
FC Porto in turn donated Brazilian striker Luan Brito, 20 years old, who will be on loan from Fluminense for 18 months at Dragão, after which the blue and white have an option to buy worth around 4.5 million euros. For now, it starts with the B-team.
Finally, Sporting is preparing to announce in the coming hours the Ivorian defender Ousmane Diomandé, 19 years old, who represented Mafra this season, on loan from the Danish Midtjylland, who will receive 7.5 million euros, with a further 5 million are provided for targets.
Source: DN
