SL Benfica will point to the release clause in the contract of 22-year-old Portuguese whizkid Tomas Araujo amid his links with Chelsea, Crystal Palace, and Newcastle United.
According to a report by Correio da Manha, as relayed by Sport Witness, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, and Newcastle United are keen on signing Tomas Araujo next year. However, SL Benfica will not part ways with the Portuguese whizkid for a cheap sum, pointing to his release clause worth €100 million to part ways with him.
The rapid rise of Tomas Araujo
Tomas Araujo has seen his stock skyrocket shortly after establishing a foothold in the first-team squad at SL Benfica. While the youngster broke into the senior setup nearly three years ago, he had to bide his time before becoming a regular for the Aguilas, with a loan spell with Gil Vicente aiding his cause.
However, the 22-year-old saw his stature rise last season and has risen in prominence further this term. Araujo has turned out 36 times thus far for SL Benfica while chipping in with one goal and one assist. Meanwhile, the highly-rated centre-back’s progress has not gone unnoticed, alerting well-known Premier League clubs like Chelsea, Crystal Palace, and Newcastle United.
High in demand
Chelsea mulled over a late move for the Portuguese defender in the summer transfer window before the deal failed to see the light of day. The continued interest in the SL Benfica defender is understandable, considering Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile must prove themselves before securing their long-term futures at Stamford Bridge.
Meanwhile, Crystal Palace also wanted to sign Tomas Araujo in the summer transfer window, failing with a bid worth €30 million. The Eagles remain keen on signing the Benfica whizkid, which makes sense, considering Marc Guehi’s long-term future is uncertain. So, Araujo is a viable target for Crystal Palace.
As for Newcastle United, the Magpies were eager to bolster their backline by signing two centre-backs in the summer transfer window before landing only one. With Fabian Schar, Dan Burn, and Jamaal Lascelles on the wrong side of 30, Newcastle United should invest in a highly-rated central defender, with Araujo an option worth considering.
However, the 22-year-old Portuguese whizkid will not come cheap, with Benfica demanding around €100 million to part ways with him. The valuation might rule out most suitors from the chase, and it will be interesting to see if they can convince the Aguilas to accept a lower fee.
