LIVERPOOL have reportedly won the transfer chase to sign Benfica’s Argentinean star Enzo Fernandez.
And the Reds have allegedly already “agreed” a deal to sign the midfielder in June 2023.
The 21-year-old came through the ranks in his homeland at River Plate but moved to Portugal last summer.
Now his stay at Benfica looks like it will be short-lived after his outstanding displays for Argentina at the World Cup.
That is according to La Capital, who claims that Jurgen Klopp has swooped for his signature.
The soon-to-be departing sporting director Julian Ward has led Anfield chiefs in negotiations and is said to have reached an arrangement with Benfica already for a summer switch.
The report also adds that Liverpool moved quickly for Fernandez in order to fend off expected interest from Premier League rivals Manchester United and City.
It states: “Liverpool accelerated the efforts to incorporate Enzo Fernández and has already signed a pre-agreement with Benfica, the Portuguese club that has the federative rights of the young midfielder of the Argentine national team, who earned a place among the starters of Lionel Scaloni’s team during the World Cup in Qatar.
“The English club in this way anticipated two other greats in the Premier League, Manchester United and Manchester City, institutions that had also planned to add the former River and Defense and Justice since June 2023.”
Fernandez is currently preparing to try and help fire his nation to the World Cup final as they get set to face Croatia tonight in the semis.
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But Liverpool’s interest in him has not only been sparked by his performances in the Middle East.
They weighed-up a swoop for him at the end of last season and have kept an interest since his arrival at Benfica.
Sky Sports’ Melissa Reddy says that the Reds have kept a “watching brief” throughout the campaign and are now convinced he is the right man to bolster their ageing midfield.
