Hunt for a new Portuguese wonderkid! Chelsea and Liverpool target Benfica defender

Premier League giants have joined the race for one of European football’s most gifted full-backs.

Details: London-based Chelsea and Liverpool have added Benfica’s 18-year-old right-back Daniel Banjaki to their list of priority transfer targets. According to authoritative sources and CaughtOffside, the Portuguese club’s hierarchy is fully aware of the growing interest from representatives of the English giants and will only consider selling their prized talent for a fee of at least €50 million.

Liverpool view the young Portuguese as an ideal long-term investment on the right side of their defence, while Chelsea scouts have also been regularly monitoring the teenager. Notably, Arsenal tried to sign Banjaki last summer, but the Lisbon club rejected a €30 million offer without hesitation (€15 million upfront and a further €15 million in bonuses). The defender’s recent outstanding Europa League performance against Milan at San Siro further put him on the radar of Europe’s top clubs. The 18-year-old played the full 90 minutes, made five successful tackles, reached a top speed of 33.1 km/h and helped his team secure a 2-0 victory.

It is worth noting that Banjaki is a product of Benfica’s academy, and in 2025 he won both the European Championship and the World Cup with Portugal’s U-17 national team. According to statistical outlet Transfermarkt, the defender’s current market value stands at €5 million.

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