Chelsea have ‘no agreement’ in place to sign Benfica midfielder Enzo Fernandez, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown: £105.5m release clause

The Premier League giants have been credited with a strong interest in the Argentina ace after a standout World Cup, with the 21-year-old reportedly wanting a move to Stamford Bridge.

The playmaker’s contract at the Estadio da Luz isn’t set to expire until 2027 but does include a £105.5m release clause, offering hope for any potential suitors that a deal could be struck before the end of his current terms in Lisbon.

The Latest: Romano’s update on Fernandez

Taking to Twitter on Wednesday evening, Romano revealed that whilst Chelsea have held discussions with Fernandez’s representatives and Benfica, there’s currently no arrangement for him to put pen to paper.

The Italian tweeted: “Understand there’s NO agreement after new meeting today between Chelsea and Benfica for Enzo Fernández. It was never a done deal, it’s not a done deal as of now.

“After meetings and talks, there’s still no agreement on key details, on clause and payment terms.”

The Verdict: Kante replacement?

N’Golo Kante will be out of contract at the end of the campaign, and after the Frenchman was linked with a summer exit in recent weeks, Fernandez would be the perfect replacement should the 2018 World Cup winner depart Chelsea.

The Argentina midfielder is a highly creative player, having posted eight goal contributions already this term, along with averaging 1.9 shots and 1.8 key passes per 90 minutes in the Portuguese top flight (WhoScored).

The Blues are falling behind in their pursuit of a top-four finish, but the prospective addition of Fernandez could help them in their attempts to bridge that gap to the Champions League places, so Todd Boehly should splash the cash to try and secure the 21-year-old's services this month.