PSG and Chelsea battle to sign defender, but there’s a complication

In case Milan Skriniar or Danilo Pereira departs, PSG already has a plan in mind to fill the gap with SL Benfica’s defender Tomas Araujo.

With just two days left until the transfer window closes, PSG is still set to make changes to their squad. On the departure side, Manuel Ugarte (Manchester United), Nordi Mukiele (Bayer Leverkusen), and Carlos Soler (West Ham) have found new clubs.

For the defense, Danilo Pereira and Milan Skriniar are also expected to leave the Red & Blue in the coming days. Regarding the Slovak international, PSG has already reached an agreement with Saudi club Al-Nassr but still awaits the 29-year-old defender's decision. Should either international leave, the Parisian board already has a target: SL Benfica’s defender Tomas Araujo, who is under contract until 2027.

The Portuguese defender is highly regarded by Luis Campos and Luis Enrique. According to information from L'Equipe, PSG is making progress in this matter and has submitted a contract offer worth €5 million per season to the 22-year-old defender. However, a battle could ensue with Chelsea, who are active on all fronts as the transfer window nears its end, despite having a crowded squad.

PSG and Chelsea battle to sign defender, but there’s a complication

As reported by the French outlet, the Blues hope to take advantage of the situation to sign Tomas Araujo. The Premier League club has reached out to SL Benfica in hopes of reaching an agreement. However, the Eagles are not willing to sell with just a few days left in the transfer window, concludes L’Equipe.

Despite the interest from Paris and London, Tomas Araujo’s future is expected to remain at SL Benfica. According to Record, the 22-year-old defender will stay with his boyhood club for the 2024-2025 season. Head coach Roger Schmidt confirmed this in a press conference:

"Tomás Araújo will stay at Benfica, 100% sure. Last season, he played several minutes, but we knew that in 2024/2025, it would be important for him to take on a different role. It’s crucial that he continues to play because he is a key player for our team. We are calm about our center-back situation because we have quality."

The Portuguese newspaper also notes that the Lisbon club rejected a €30 million offer from Crystal Palace.