Chelsea and Liverpool are among a growing list of clubs tracking Benfica’s highly rated teenage right-back Daniel Banjaqui, with a base fee of around £30m potentially enough to open talks for the 18-year-old.

Banjaqui has emerged as one of European football’s most closely monitored young defenders. Born in Lisbon in 2008, the Portugal youth international has risen rapidly through Benfica’s academy and is now attracting attention from a string of leading clubs across the continent.

His profile has soared over the past year after helping Portugal win both the UEFA European Under-17 Championship and the FIFA U-17 World Cup. Those achievements, combined with a handful of senior appearances for Benfica, have firmly placed him on recruitment radars.

Scouts view Banjaqui as a modern full-back: athletic enough for elite football, defensively solid, and capable of contributing in the attacking third.

Premier League interest

Chelsea and Liverpool have been among the most active Premier League clubs monitoring his progress. Chelsea’s interest is reportedly heightened by ongoing fitness concerns surrounding Reece James, with the club continuing its strategy of identifying the best young talent. Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola is also understood to be an admirer.

Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton have been named as interested parties by sources, alongside Manchester United, Newcastle United and Arsenal.

Widespread European competition

Interest extends well beyond England. In Germany, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig are monitoring the defender. Italian clubs Juventus, AS Roma and Inter Milan have been mentioned, while Spanish interest includes Atletico Madrid, Real Sociedad and Barcelona.

No formal negotiations have begun, with clubs currently at the scouting and information-gathering stage.

Contract situation

Banjaqui is under contract at Benfica until 2031, having extended his deal earlier this year. His release clause sits close to £45m.

Sources suggest Benfica could be open to discussions from around €35m–€40m (£30m–£33m), though the Lisbon club are understood to prefer keeping the teenager and continuing his development under Marco Silva.

With first-team minutes still limited and a long-term contract in place, any move remains far from straightforward. Sources have stressed that the race to sign one of football’s best defensive prospects is still in its very early stages.