Liverpool have reportedly secured a ‘pre-contract agreement’ with Benfica midfielder and Argentina international star Enzo Fernandez.
Fernandez has caught the eye at the World Cup, where he scored a brilliant goal in Argentina’s 2-0 win over Mexico during the group stage. The 21-year-old midfielder curled into the top corner late on to ensure Argentina won a match they desparately needed to.
The holding midfielder did not feature from the start in either of his nation’s opening two World Cup games but has been included in the line-ups for each of the next three matches, including the quarter-final victory over Netherlands.
For Argentina, Fernandez mainly plays at the base of a three-man midfield, however he has also appeared in a 4-2-3-1 configuration for Benfica. His positional knowledge and tactical awareness are highly regarded, and he is more well-known for his passing range and technique than for his tackling prowess.
The player has reportedly signed a pre-agreement with the Reds, according to reports from the Portuguese publication Record and the Spanish publication Diario AS. However, neither of the outlets claims ownership of the news, instead stating that those reports first appeared in the other country.
After missing out on Aurelien Tchouameni, who moved from Monaco to Real Madrid last summer, Liverpool is prioritizing the acquisition of a central midfielder for next summer. They are also monitoring the situation of Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham, who is being pursued by a number of Europe’s top clubs.
Fernandez only joined Benfica over the summer in a deal worth €10million (£8.9million) plus €8m (£7.1m) in add-ons from Argentine giants River Plate. The Lisbon club have inserted a £106m release clause in his contract, meaning any suitors would have to spend big to secure his signature.
Fernandez earned his first call-up to the Argentina senior squad in September and he has only made a grand total of 116 senior appearances throughout his career, having made his debut in March 2020.
Benfica have become experts in signing players – many from South American nations – in relatively-affordable deals before selling them on for huge profits to wealthier clubs within Europe. Liverpool made striker Darwin Nunez their club-record signing when the striker joined from Benfica in a deal worth £64.2million (€75m) up front plus a series of add-ons earlier this year.
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