Fabrizio Romano has claimed that Enzo Fernandez has a release clause of £104 million, just hours after Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe spoke about the midfielder.
Fernandez starred for Argentinian at this year’s World Cup winning the Young Player of the Tournament award after helping his country lift the major honour, all despite not starting either of the first two games.
Eddie Howe held his pre-match press conference on Monday morning ahead of the Magpies’ Carabao Cup clash against Bournemouth and was asked about Fernandez amidst Alan Shearer’s latest comments on the midfielder, and Howe insisted that a transfer fee for Fernandez would be ‘quite lumpy‘.
Romano has now gone on to confirm while speaking on the House of Champions YouTube channel that Fernandez does indeed have a monster release clause.
Would you like Newcastle to sign Fernandez?
Yes!
No!
(6:30) “He has a release clause which is €120 million, if you told me one month ago that you have to pay €120 million for Enzo Fernandez I would have answered no I think €60, €65-70 million could be fine but today I’m not sure they’re going to accept maybe €80 or €90 million, I’m sure they’re going to protect Benfica with that release clause, €120 million.”
TIF Thoughts on links to Fernandez…
While Howe did indeed confirm that he’s aware of Fernandez, even he recognised that signing the midfielder would be highly unlikely and almost impossible given the transfer fee, but also because of the interest from around the continent in the midfielder.
Also, the fact that Newcastle already have a bloated midfield department with first-team players itching to get regular minutes, bringing in someone for so much money as Fernandez would cost doesn’t make much sense when there are other priority areas to improve.