Chelsea and Manchester United are battling to sign Benfica centre-back Tomas Araujo, according to TEAMtalk.
The 24-year-old is a product of Benfica’s never-ending talent pool that has also produced several outstanding defenders, including Manchester City’s Ruben Diaz, Aston Villa’s Victor Lindelof, Bournemouth’s Antonio Silva, Barcelona’s Joao Cancelo, Fenerbahce’s Nelson Semedo, who had a five-year stint with Wolverhampton Wanderers, and a host of others.
After impressing through the youth ranks and notably playing a crucial role in the 2021-22 UEFA Youth League success, Araujo was handed his first-team debut in December 2021 in the 2-0 win over Sporting da Covilhã in the Taça da Liga before coming on for Jan Vertonghen two months later in a 3-0 win over Vitória de Guimarães to mark his first Primeira Liga start for the club.
He was sent on loan to Gil Vicente to gain regular minutes, and since his return, he has featured in 118 games across all competitions, establishing himself as not just one of the best centre-backs in the Primeira Liga but also across Europe.
It’s no surprise his performances have piqued the interest of several clubs, with TEAMtalk reporting that Chelsea and Man Utd are battling to sign the 24-year-old.
Battle
The report adds that the Premier League duo are keeping close tabs on Araujo and were in attendance at the San Siro to watch Araujo in action against AC Milan in the UEFA Champions League last month, where he produced a man-of-the-match display.
Although his contract contains a £68m release clause, a departure in January appears unlikely, having only recently extended his contract until 2031 last month, according to the report.
However, Chelsea and United are not alone in the race, with TEAMtalk adding that Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United and Brighton & Hove Albion have also been watching the 6ft 2in centre-back.
Looking at Araujo’s statistics this season, it is clear to see why United and Chelsea are battling to sign him. In seven Primeira Liga games, the Portuguese has completed 94.2% of his passes and has never been dispossessed, highlighting his exceptional qualities on the ball.
Off the ball, He has won 58.6% of his contested duels and averages 5.41 defensive actions per game in the ongoing campaign.
Araujo would undoubtedly be a solid addition to either Michael Carrick’s or Xabi Alonso’s backline, so it’ll be interesting to see which of the clubs will trigger his £68m release clause next summer.
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