Man Utd 'planning' £50m transfer hijack for Chelsea target as Amorim plots bold rebuild

Manchester United are said to be planning on a move for Chelsea transfer target defender Tomas Araujo, who is currently playing for Portuguese side Benfica.

Araujo, 22, can play either at centre-back or right-back and so far this season has made 13 appearances for Benfica including four games in the Champions League. He suits playing in a back three which could be one of the predominant reasons why Amorim is rumoured to be targeting him.

According to SunSport, the United boss has put Araujo on his transfer wish list and could push for the defender once the January transfer window opens with an offer of around £50m. However, Benfica value the 22-year-old highly and reportedly placed an £83m release clause onto him.

Araujo is contracted to Benfica until June 2028 and has so far made 37 appearances for the first team after learning the ropes with both Benfica’s B-team and youth teams after coming through the academy.

Chelsea have also been linked to the defender as they look for a long-term replacement for Thiago Silva. Football transfer Journalist Fabrizio Romano confirmed Chelsea’s interest in the 22-year-old as he said on his YouTube channel: “Chelsea are actively monitoring the centre-back market.

“Let’s see if it will be January or summer. They considered Tomas Araujo in the last days of the summer just gone but Benfica were not selling. Chelsea are interested in several players.” The Blues could swoop in ahead of United and just pay his £83m release clause in order to bring Araujo to Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea looking to add a centre-back

Enzo Maresca’s side have been electric when attacking so far this season playing two Premier League games when they scored three or more goals. The latter was arguably the most special when Cole Palmer scored four goals in the first half against Brighton in late September.

However, the Blues have been vulnerable at the back and so the Chelsea boss wants to add reinforcements in defence. As well as Araujo, they have been linked to Nottingham Forest defender Murillo both in the summer and beyond.

He is valued at £60m-plus by Forest who so far have the third-best defensive record in the Premier League after 12 matches despite the fact that they come off a 3-0 defeat to Arsenal last weekend.

Chelsea have also been linked with Bournemouth centre-back Ilya Zabarnyi who could cost them around £42m making him likely the cheapest option of the three that they have interest in. Reports have also been linking the Ukrainian over a move to Manchester City as well as Pep Guardiola looks to rectify what has been a difficult period for him.