€30m Mourinho wonderkid can make Man Utd forget about transfer hijack

Tom Weber

• Updated: 26 Jan 2026 18:10 GMT
• 4 min read

News

Benfica youngster Daniel Banjaqui is attracting Premier League interest, and he could make Manchester United forget about a chastening defeat in the market.

Earlier on Monday, Chelsea officially announced the signing of Sheffield Wednesday wonderkid Yisa Alao. The Blues beat off competition from several big-name clubs after making a bid stacked with performance-related bonuses.

Man Utd are among the clubs left disappointed by Alao's move to Stamford Bridge. The Red Devils were the first to bid for the 17-year-old full-back, but the offer they made shortly before Christmas did not meet Wednesday's expectations, allowing Chelsea to swoop in.

However, there is another 17-year-old full-back who is attracting high-profile attention. According to Sky Sports, Benfica youngster Daniel Banjaqui is fielding interest from various Premier League clubs.

In fact, the report goes so far as to claim that "top English clubs" are ready to pay his €30 million release clause, which would be remarkable considering that he only made his Primeira Liga debut on Sunday. He assisted fellow teenager Anisio Cabral to seal a 4-0 win over Estrele Amadora.

Banjaqui chased by English clubs

The report refrains from naming the clubs supposedly ready to shell out such a hefty sum on a still-unproven player, but it would not be a surprise if Man Utd were among them.

The Old Trafford outfit are familiar with the Portuguese market due to former head coach Ruben Amorim and will have had Banjaqui on their radar even before Benfica boss Jose Mourinho gave him his senior debut in the Portuguese cup in mid-December.

Man Utd were ready to spend big on Geovany Quenda last year, only to be beaten to his signature by Chelsea (sound familiar?), so they are not afraid to move for talented but inexperienced youngsters.

Moreover, the full-back options at Man Utd can certainly be improved upon. Prior to his sacking, Amorim desperately wanted a new left wing-back, while there have also been question marks over the right-back spot.

Alao could have been a long-term solution at left-back, while Banjaqui would be an option for the right. Ultimately, only time will tell if Man Utd are indeed among the latter's suitors, but the Benfica youngster will be one to watch going forward.

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