An interview involving Enzo Fernandez has gone viral in recent hours after the World Cup winner made some interesting comments about Chelsea transfer target Declan Rice.
After weeks of speculation surrounding his future, Argentine midfielder Fernandez finally completed a £106.8 million move from Benfica to Stamford Bridge on deadline day.
Chelsea's co-owner Behdad Eghbali spent 20 consecutive hours negotiating the reported eight-and-a-half year deal.
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And just three days after becoming the most expensive player in British football history, the highly-rated River Plate academy product made his debut for the Blues in their 0-0 draw against Fulham.
Fernandez, who joins fellow newcomers Mykhailo Mudryk, Benoit Badiashile and Malo Gusto at Stamford Bridge, will likely be one of many big signings as Chelsea try and become a force in Europe again.
A number of names have already emerged as possible summer targets, including West Ham midfielder Declan Rice.
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Arsenal have reportedly made Rice their top summer target as they look to lift their first Premier League title since 2004, but his former club Chelsea have also held a long-term interest in the England international.
And someone who would enjoy playing alongside Rice is new boy Fernandez, who waxed lyrical about the 24-year-old during an interview at last winter's World Cup.
In the chat with a Chinese TV station, Fernandez said: "I try to watch as much football and learn a little bit from everyone. I like Rice of England, I try to watch him and learn.”
Chelsea fans were quick to speculate as the above clip went viral
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One said: "Enzo Fernandez is already praising Declan Rice and you think Todd Boehly will watch that video and not do anything? Declan Rice to Chelsea in the summer, here we go!"
Another commented: "Declan Rice and Enzo Fernandez pivot at Chelsea football club. I LOVE the sound of that."
A third wrote: "Declan Rice × Enzo Fernandez would be a wonderful pairing."
One thing is for certain. Declan Rice will not come cheap.
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West Ham manager David Moyes recently suggested that Rice will cost clubs more than the £107 million paid by Chelsea for Enzo Fernandez.
When speaking about his display against Newcastle on Saturday, Moyes told talkSPORT: “I don’t know if I need to say the words, I think you can say the words if you watched it the way I saw it.
“I thought he was a top player in the first half, he really was, he showed so many things. Undoubtedly Declan is going to be a top player. And undoubtedly he’ll be a British transfer record and more whenever he leaves West Ham.”
Moyes added: “I hope it’s not, I hope he sees his time here. But look, there’s a lot of talk about it and when you see what’s going about for the prices.
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"I think Declan will be blowing that (British record) out of the water, that’s for sure, when it comes around."
Thoughts on Fernandez's comments about Rice? Can you see them being a good partnership at Chelsea if the Blues make a move this summer?
Let us know in the comments.
Featured Image Credit: Twitter/@ChelseaXtraFRTopics: Declan Rice, Enzo Fernandez, Chelsea, Chelsea Transfer News & Rumours