Liverpool face ever-growing competition for the signing of Enzo Fernandez as Real Madrid enter the race for the Argentine superstar, who Benfica now want over £100m for in 2023.
According to Record, the reigning UEFA Champions League holders have now joined the race to sign Fernandez, with Real Madrid impressed with what they have seen from the midfielder in Qatar as the 21-year-old scored a sensational goal in Argentina’s 2-0 win against Mexico.
Lauded by Lionel Messi as ‘sensational’, Fernandez is quickly establishing himself as the breakout talent of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, with many expecting the Benfica star to feature in the starting XI later this week against Poland in Argentina’s third and final group stage fixture.
Yet interest was already high in Fernandez before the World Cup even started, with Sport reporting that Liverpool are chasing the midfielder alongside Premier League rivals Chelsea and Wolves, with 90min also claiming that Manchester United hold an interest in the South American superstar.
Indeed, the World Cup will surely play a role in Fernandez’s future with Madrid now interested in signing the Argentine, and Benfica’s new £100m price tag could soon dwarf what the midfielder could actually be worth if the youngster continues to impress in Qatar.
As for Liverpool, Madrid’s interest is the last thing the Reds wanted, with Los Blancos already beating Jurgen Klopp to Aurelien Tchouameni earlier this year with Carlo Ancelotti’s side also reportedly interested in signing Jude Bellingham, another top target for the Merseyside club.
Real Madrid signing Fernandez will hurt Liverpool in the long-term
Central midfield is the biggest area Liverpool have to invest in during the winter and summer transfer windows in 2023, and missing out on a talent like Fernandez to Madrid will be a major blow to the Premier League giants in the long-term.
After all, the Argentine is perfect for what Liverpool need in the market, with Fernandez young, dynamic and capable of producing moments of magic from thin air. And to lose out on the Argentine to Madrid, of all clubs, will be a killer blow for the Merseyside club.
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