Enzo Fernandez will MISS Benfica's game tonight as Chelsea push to finalise a British-record £105m deal... but reports in Portugal claim star midfielder is now 'closer' to STAYING in Lisbon

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Chelsea target Enzo Fernandez is set to miss Benfica's game against Arouca tonight as the Blues look to seal a £105million deal for the midfielder - according to reports - but the player is now said to be closer to staying put. 

Argentina's World Cup hero has been chased by the west London outfit for most of the January transfer window, with the move for the midfielder becoming topsy-turvy after being called off and then put back on track.

Chelsea believe a deal for the 22-year-old can be done today and fans have claimed to have spotted a private jet land in Lisbon to conclude the transfer. 

Chelsea target Enzo Fernandez will not feature for Benfica in their game against Arouca tonight - but he is now said to be 'closer to staying' than leaving 

But supporters may be concerned by reports from Portuguese outfit Record, who claim that while Fernandez will not feature for Benfica in tonight's clash, he is actually now closer to staying with the club than leaving.

There is still 'no agreement' between the two clubs, the report adds, with Benfica 'trying everything' to keep him in the Portuguese capital until the end of the season.

Fernandez is 'not in a position' to feature against Arouca it adds having been absent from training on Monday and only undergoing gym work.

Sealing the £105m deal would make Fernandez Britain's most expensive footballer and bolster Graham Potter's squad at a time when the club are struggling in 10th place and set to lose midfielder Jorginho to rivals Arsenal in a £12m switch. 

Chelsea have been busy in the transfer window this month, already securing seven signings - Benoit Badiashile, David Datro Fofana, Andrey Santos, Mykhailo Mudryk, Noni Madueke, Malo Gusto - and Joao Felix on loan. 

Graham Potter has been chasing the midfielder all month and faces a race against time to seal the move on deadline day

Argentina's World Cup hero has made it clear to Benfica he wants to leave for a new challenge 

Having already traced Felix's move from Atletico Madrid using flight logs, supporters used the same method to seemingly track Chelsea's private jet arriving in Lisbon early on deadline day. 

Users pointed out data revealing that a private jet was flying to Lisbon from Farnborough, the same plane that chartered Felix to the club's Cobham training ground earlier this month.

Chelsea had an offer of around £75m plus bonuses rejected for Fernandez earlier in the month. 

Fernandez has been very public in his attempts to leave the Portuguese club during the January transfer window - giving the Blues confidence in securing a deal.

Not only would the transfer for Fernandez eclipse their own record but it would surpass the record-breaking £100million figure that Man City paid Aston Villa for Jack Grealish in 2021.