Sources close to Enzo Fernandez’s camp say that Chelsea are very clear about what they want to do with the Argentine midfielder. They want to renew his contract with a pay rise, even though other clubs are very interested and negotiations have been put on hold. Fernandez’s agent, Javier Pastore, and Chelsea have already discussed a new deal, which suggests there is a chance to keep him at Stamford Bridge.
The 25-year-old World Cup winner has been the centre of a transfer story that has made headlines for weeks. Fernandez has scored 12 goals and set up six more in 46 games this season for Chelsea, who are currently trying to qualify for the Champions League. His current contract at Stamford Bridge runs until June 2032, but because he has quickly become one of the best midfielders in Europe, expectations for his salary have changed.
His agents think he is currently underpaid on the open market. Pastore told The Athletic what went wrong with the talks:
“There have been talks about renewing his contract, yes. We started discussing it around December or January, but we couldn’t reach an agreement.”
The former PSG midfielder, who is now an agent, went on to say:
“As Enzo’s contract still has six years to run, we decided not to renew it because the terms weren’t right.”
Chelsea Prepared to Offer Improved Deal to End Fernandez Saga Despite Two-Match Suspension
Fernandez’s recent two-match suspension for saying he wanted to live in Madrid during the international break has made things even more difficult. Liam Rosenior, the head coach, said that Fernandez had crossed a line regarding the club’s culture and that the decision was a defence of those standards. The midfielder missed Chelsea’s 7-0 FA Cup win over Port Vale and will also miss the important Premier League game against Manchester City on 12 April.
Chelsea are still determined to keep Fernandez. They see him as one of the best midfielders in the world, and their top priority is to break the contract deadlock and make sure he stays at the centre of their project. Real Madrid are at the front of the queue for the Argentine player, but big European teams like Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich are also keeping a close eye on the situation.
Pastore, on the other hand, hinted at what would happen if the talks fell through. He said that after the 2026 World Cup, they plan to meet with Chelsea again, and if they can’t reach an agreement, they will look for other destinations for the Argentine.