Chelsea were 'rushed into their January signing of Enzo Fernandez amid fears he might join a European rival'.
The midfielder arrived in Stamford Bridge from Benfica for a British record £107 million, despite the Portuguese club's best efforts to keep him until the summer.
Fernandez's stock has gone through the roof since last year's World Cup, where he was awarded the Young Player Award for his role in Argentina's victory.
According to reports in the Telegraph, Graham Potter's side paid the 22-year-old's buy-out clause in late January out of fears that six European giants, including Manchester City and Real Madrid, 'might beat them to his signature'.