Benfica on alert: German giants keeping tabs on Banjaqui

Benfica's 18-year-old right-back Daniel Banjaqui is being closely monitored by Borussia Dortmund. The news has been making headlines in Germany, expanded upon by the German edition of Sport following initial reports from Swiss outlet 4-4-2.

Competition for the Benfica starlet promises to be fierce. Banjaqui caught the eye after lifting both the European Championship and the World Cup at Under-17 level, and he is now establishing himself in Marco Silva's Benfica side and Luís Freire's Portugal Under-21 setup—even netting a fine goal against Czechia during the recent international break.

Beyond Dortmund, reports suggest that Bundesliga rivals RB Leipzig, Italian giants Juventus and Roma, Premier League sides Brighton and Tottenham, and Spanish clubs Atlético Madrid and Real Sociedad are all tracking the defender. Each of these teams has been actively scouting and gathering information on the youngster.

Dortmund, however, boast an exceptional track record when it comes to recruiting top young talent and developing them with high success rates—Erling Haaland being the standout example. Portugal international striker Fábio Silva is another case of Dortmund investing in youth.

Banjaqui recently signed a contract extension keeping him at Benfica until the summer of 2031, shielded by an €80 million release clause. That substantial figure remains a key safeguard for the Lisbon club, keeping Europe's elite at arm's length for now.