Manchester United and Chelsea monitor SL Benfica defender

Manchester United and Chelsea are continuing to monitor Thomas Araújo, SL Benfica's defender, after conducting several follow-ups on the player, especially following his impressive performance against AC Milan in the UEFA Europa League last month.

TEAMtalk has reported that Araujo has been attracting interest from several European clubs for some time, having become an important player for SL Benfica after progressing through the club's academy.

The 24-year-old Portuguese defender stands out for his ability to handle the ball and pass, along with his potential to play in both centre-back and right-back positions, factors that have made him a target for several clubs in the Premier League.

Manchester United and Chelsea were among the clubs that monitored Araujo during the match against SL Benfica and AC Milan, where he delivered a performance that earned him the Man of the Match award. He was also watched by Tottenham, Newcastle, and Brighton.

Despite the growing interest in the player, his chances of leaving SL Benfica in January appear slim after he renewed his contract for four years last month.

The new contract includes a release clause of €80 million, equivalent to £68 million, which may lead interested clubs to wait until next summer. Meanwhile, SL Benfica insists on keeping Araújo in the plans of new coach Marco Silva.