Liverpool Set to Battle Chelsea in the Race to Sign £68m Defender – Report | OneFootball

Liverpool Monitor Benfica Defender After Missing Out on Dean Huijsen

Liverpool’s summer recruitment drive is gaining momentum as Arne Slot prepares for a second season in charge of the Premier League champions. While Florian Wirtz looks set to arrive in a headline-grabbing transfer, defensive reinforcements remain a top priority following the disappointment of missing out on Dean Huijsen to Real Madrid.

According to a new report by A Bola, Liverpool are now eyeing Benfica centre-back Tomas Araujo, a player widely compared to Gerard Pique. The Portuguese publication states that Liverpool are “looking for a centre-back” and have identified Araujo as a serious candidate. With the Reds needing to reinforce a defence that may yet lose both Jarell Quansah and Joe Gomez, Araujo’s profile appears to align well with the club’s evolving blueprint.

Photo: IMAGO

Benfica Starlet Drawing Major Premier League Attention

Benfica have long established themselves as a conveyor belt for elite talent, producing the likes of Joao Felix and Darwin Nunez in recent years. While they narrowly missed out on the Liga Portugal title this season, their academy continues to supply top-tier prospects, and Araujo is one of the most sought-after among them.

“Liverpool are looking for a centre-back,” reports A Bola, adding that the Merseyside club have been keeping tabs on Araujo after Huijsen opted for the Santiago Bernabeu. The outlet also highlights Chelsea’s strong interest, noting the London club have the Portuguese defender “top of their list of favourites” as they look to reshape their own back line.

Yet any pursuit of Araujo will come at a price. The player has an €80 million (£68 million) release clause, and A Bola are clear that Benfica are “not looking to sell him” this summer, despite feeling under “threat” from interested clubs.

Photo: IMAGO

What This Means for Slot’s Back Line

The uncertainty surrounding Ibrahima Konaté’s future, plus the persistent links away for Quansah and Gomez, has left Liverpool in a precarious situation at centre-back. Jeremie Frimpong has already arrived to bolster the full-back positions, but the spine of the defence remains in flux.

With Huijsen described as Liverpool’s “dream target” after his breakout campaign at Bournemouth, the loss of the Spanish defender to Madrid adds weight to the urgency of securing a new centre-back. Araujo, aged 22, has displayed the kind of physicality, composure and passing range that would fit Slot’s high line and progressive style.

“Many changes could be afoot,” the report observes, and there’s every reason to believe that another major signing could still be announced before Wirtz even arrives.

Big Decisions Loom on Merseyside

Liverpool’s ability to convince Araujo to make the move may ultimately rest on timing and strategy. Chelsea’s financial firepower and aggressive transfer stance pose a clear threat, and unless Benfica soften their stance on the player, activating the release clause might be the only option.

There’s little doubt that Slot sees central defence as a linchpin for sustained success. Having conquered the league in his debut campaign, he now must construct a side capable of defending that crown across all competitions. With potential departures weakening depth and experience, Araujo could represent both an investment in the present and a long-term cornerstone for the club.

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

Look, you can’t fault the ambition. Winning the league doesn’t mean we should stand still, and fair play to Slot for getting his business done early with Wirtz and Frimpong. But there’s still that nagging feeling, isn’t there? We’ve missed out on Huijsen, and now we’re chasing a lad with an £80 million price tag from Benfica who they don’t want to sell. Sounds all too familiar.

Tomas Araujo may well be the next Pique, but when has it ever been easy dealing with Portuguese clubs? Chelsea being in the mix just complicates things even further. They’ll throw silly money at it and walk away with the player while we haggle and hesitate. If Quansah or Gomez go and we’re left with Matip’s memory and Konaté’s hamstrings, we’ll be in trouble fast.

You’d hope we’ve got a couple more names on the shortlist, just in case. But knowing Liverpool’s recent history with defenders, we’re one injury away from crisis. Araujo looks promising, but at that price and with that competition, don’t be surprised if this story ends with someone else holding the scarf.