Barcelona keeping tabs on Benfica's young Portuguese talent Banjaqui – Lisbon club eager to keep hold of player

Barcelona is closely monitoring the situation surrounding one of Portugal's most promising young footballers – Benfica's right-back Daniel Banjaqui.

Details: According to A Bola, the Lisbon club has recently stepped up negotiations to extend the contract of the 17-year-old, whose impressive progress has caught the eye of several European heavyweights, including the Catalan side.

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Banjaqui is both a European and World champion with Portugal's U-17 national team, and it was at these tournaments that he caught the attention of Barcelona scouts. His current deal with Benfica runs until the summer of 2027, but an agreement on an extension has yet to be reached. Last December, the defender made his debut for the first team under José Mourinho, who rates the youngster highly and understands that the club must act quickly to avoid losing one of its academy's brightest prospects.

Reports suggest Barcelona's interest in the player aligns with sporting director Deco's strategy of focusing on young talents with international potential, particularly in the full-back positions. With Banjaqui's 18th birthday approaching (March 24), the pressure on Benfica is mounting – the Lisbon club is racing to finalize a new deal to prevent the possible departure of a player Mourinho is determined to protect and gradually integrate into the elite of European football.

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