Arsenal & Tottenham Eye Benfica Striker as Bargain Release Clause Sparks Interest

​Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal are both believed to be keeping tabs on Benfica striker João Filipe, as both sides look to secure a bargain striker in the summer transfer window.

The 19-year-old is rapidly becoming one of the most exciting young prospects in Portuguese football, and was the joint top scorer for his country at last summer's Under-19 European Championship.

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According to the Telegraph, Filipe, or 'Jota' as he is most commonly known, has attracted the interest of both north London sides, who could acquire his services for a relatively cheap €30m when the next transfer window opens. 

The report claims ​Spurs sent a scout to see him in action for the Benfica senior team last Thursday, as they look to bolster their frontline for next season.

The Portuguese league leaders are set to have already rejected bids below the release clause for their starlet, and they may look to extend his current contract beyond 2022 - allowing them to ramp up his release clause. This would certainly dampen the interest in the teenager, at a time where a number of their top players are being monitored by elite European sides.

SL Benfica v FC Bayern Muenchen - UEFA Champions League Group E

Prodigious forward ​João Félix is said to be on the radar of both Manchester United, Barcelona and Real Madrid, while​ Liverpool are believed to be hellbent on signing defender Ferro to strengthen their defensive numbers. 


Much like Ajax, Benfica's golden generation looks set to be carved up and distributed across Europe in the upcoming transfer window.

Meanwhile, ​​the Gunn​ers look unlikely to make loanee Denis Suárez a permanent member of their squad in the summer, as manager Unai Emery is set to pursue other options. The ​Barcelona midfielder has been used sparingly since joining ​Arsenal in January, and is believed to have struggled to adapt to the robust nature of ​Premier League football.


Source : 90min