Liverpool ready to spend £30m on Portuguese right-back, Iraola keen
Liverpool are prepared to spend £30 million on 18‑year‑old Portuguese right‑back Daniel Banjaqui, with head coach Andoni Iraola openly backing the move. The youngster has already featured in six professional games for SL Benfica, three last term and three so far this season. His reputation as one of Europe’s most sought‑after defenders has attracted interest from several Premier League clubs.
Why Liverpool are targeting Banjaqui
Richard Hughes has overseen more than £150 million of summer signings, yet the Reds have not returned to the level they require. Jeremy Jacquet and Ronald Araujo have solidified the defence, but the side’s goal output remains low, prompting fans to call for further change. Iraola’s personal admiration for Banjaqui reflects the club’s desire to inject fresh talent.
TEAMtalk reported that both Chelsea and Liverpool are tracking Banjaqui, with a base fee around £30 million. The report added that Chelsea’s interest has risen due to fitness worries surrounding Reece James, while Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola is understood to be an admirer. Tottenham Hotspur, Brighton, Manchester United, Newcastle United and Arsenal have also been linked with the Portuguese defender.
Financial and academy context
Spending £30 million on a player with only six senior appearances is a sizeable gamble, especially after Liverpool paid £34 million for Victor Munoz earlier in the summer. The club has also invested heavily in its academy, signing prospects such as Ifeanyi Ndukwe, Samuel Martinez and Mor Talla Ndiaye in recent years. These moves underline a long‑term strategy to blend youth with experience.
While Banjaqui could be thrust straight into the Reds’ first‑team plans, the club is expected to ease him through the youth ranks before he challenges for a starting spot under Iraola. The potential reward of securing a high‑ceiling defender may outweigh the financial risk, given the breadth of interest from clubs across Europe and England.
If the deal materialises, Liverpool will add a promising Portuguese talent to a squad that has already bolstered its defence but still struggles for goals, while Banjaqui will gain a platform to develop at one of the world’s most watched clubs.