Benfica asked for Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic in part-exchange for Enzo Fernandez, according to reports in the Portuguese media.

However, the Blues refused to include the Croatian international in negotiations for Fernandez and a straight cash deal was agreed for the World Cup winner instead.

Kovacic cost £40m when he joined from Real Madrid on a permanent basis in July 2019, and he has gone on to make 206 appearances for Chelsea.

It is not a surprise that the London club were unwilling to include the 28-year-old as part of a swap deal as he remains a key player for manager Graham Potter.

You also have to take into account that the Blues sold Jorginho to Arsenal on deadline day and, combined with the absence of N’Golo Kante, offloading Kovacic as well would have ripped the heart out of the midfield.

The Croatian’s contract does expire at the end of next season, though, so a decision will still have to be made on his future in the summer.