The Blues remain locked in talks with Benfica over Argentina’s World Cup-winning midfielder, who has returned as their top target after negotiations broke down in sour fashion earlier in January.
Chelsea have made an offer of £105million for Fernandez that would smash the British transfer record, but there is still plenty of debate over the structure of the payment with time quickly running out.
Arsenal are also swooping for Jorginho in a shock deal before the window shuts having failed to convince Brighton to sell Moises Caicedo.
FOLLOW ALL THE DEADLINE DAY LATEST WITH OUR LIVE BLOG!
Top priority
A central midfielder has been a priority for some time but, even amid all their spending, finding an option has proved to be difficult. Fernandez was Chelsea’s primary target from the moment the transfer window opened and is now again the full focus of club staff.
Negotiations have been ongoing throughout the month to make his a British transfer record, signing for over £100m. It follows the news that West Ham captain Declan Rice increasingly prefers a move to Arsenal.
Everton’s Amadou Onana has rejected an approach from Chelsea after Brighton held firm over Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister. Arsenal also tried to steal a march for Caicedo before moving for Jorginho.
Top target: Chelsea are pushing hard for a record deal for Enzo Fernandez on deadline day
/ REUTERSPossible ins
Fernandez is the sole focus of Chelsea’s attentions on deadline day, but it’s hard to rule out other swoops given how they have operated earlier in the window.
Will there be time to pivot to an alternative if Benfica hold firm, especially with Jorginho heading out?
Possible outs
Jorginho is set to leave for Arsenal in a shock deadline-day deal worth around £12m.
Manager Graham Potter will be dealing with unregistering players from his Champions League squad after the transfer window unless Chelsea sell other players.
That could lead to a cut-price exit for Hakim Ziyech, who is set for a Paris Saint-Germain medical after being sounded out by AC Milan, Roma, Newcastle and Everton. Ruben Loftus-Cheek has admirers but is reluctant to leave.
Conor Gallagher is similarly reluctant to leave on loan but he could be allowed to join Crystal Palace or Everton, while Cesare Casadei has joined Reading on loan. Datro Fofana and Omari Hutchinson could also find temporary new homes.
