Real Madrid are reportedly refusing to agree to a swap deal with Chelsea which would send Vinicius Junior to London. The Brazilian star's future has been a talking point throughout the season with his contract expiring in 2027.
Vinicius has been back to his best under caretaker manager Alvaro Arbeloa and appears keen to extend his deal with the club. He has appeared 31 times across competitions this season, scoring seven goals and providing 11 assists.
The 25-year-old has publicly affirmed his desire to remain at the Estadio Bernabeu for many years to come. But it appears the Blues are trying to bring him to the Premier League this summer.
Real Madrid snub Chelsea's Vinicius swap proposal
Chelsea have been linked with Vinicius in the past, and a potential offer from the English giants was a rumor during his difficult spell under Xabi Alonso. While it was claimed that the West Londoners weren't interested, it sounded as though they were leaving the door open for a future swoop.
According to Defensa Central, the Blues have "agreed to swap Enzo Fernandez" for Vinicius. The Argentine midfielder has been on Madrid's radar as the Spanish heavyweights prepare to bolster their midfield this summer.
But the report claims that only Chelsea have agreed on their side to a potential swap deal and Madrid are currently refusing. They are prioritising Vinicius' contract renewal and Fernandez isn't one of their top targets.
Fernandez has encountered a topsy-turvy spell at Stamford Bridge after joining back in January 2023. He was a Los Blancos target at the time but Florentino Perez wasn't willing to meet the €121m asking price.
The 25-year-old does reportedly view Madrid as a "dream move" but he has six years left on his contract. That means signing him would likely cost more than the price that was paid by the English side shortly after the 2022 World Cup.
A Vinicius-Fernandez swap deal would be absurd
This report should be taken with a grain of salt because it would be utterly scandalous for Madrid to consider swapping Vinicius for Fernandez. The Argentine hasn't performed to a level anywhere close to the Brazilian to warrant being exchanged.
The La Liga giants would come out of the deal as the losers but perhaps the thinking would be that Vinicius' contract will have a year left to run in the summer. Even so, he is one of the very best attackers in world football.
Fernandez shouldn't be one of Madrid's priorities this summer so their stance is the correct one. There are better midfield options with more potential than the former Benfica man.