Chelsea told to pay €80m for player they bid €60m for last summer – how Blues can make deal work

Here is the paraphrased version of the passage, keeping quoted words intact and rewording everything else:

—

At the top of Chelsea’s list of defensive transfer targets this summer sits Dean Huijsen. That’s evident based on the sheer volume of speculation involving his name and the credibility of the sources linking him to the club.

Marc Guehi is also getting plenty of attention, bringing a contrasting style that, according to many supporters, fills a more pressing need than signing another young, technical centre-back.

However, beyond those two, it’s apparent the club is also exploring a range of alternatives to avoid becoming overly focused on one player and risking paying above market value. That’s why recent links to Benfica’s Tomas Araujo have surfaced.

**More Stories about Tomas Araujo**

Enzo Maresca appearing alongside Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley in a set of photos.

*Report: Chelsea told they will have to pay €80m to sign player on their radar this summer* — April 30, 2025, 09:00 AM

A generic early evening shot of Stamford Bridge. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

*Exclusive report names two transfer targets for Chelsea with Enzo Maresca backing one* — November 14, 2024, 06:30 AM

Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley pictured in the stands.

*Latest Chelsea target could cost €30m or more to fix remaining gap in Blues team* — November 13, 2024, 04:30 PM

CaughtOffside reports that Chelsea have identified the Benfica youngster as a “player of growing interest,” noting that both Real Madrid and the Blues have made “informal contact” with the Portuguese club to gauge the 22-year-old’s price.

Benfica are reportedly adamant about holding out for his €80m release clause, a figure that likely exceeds Chelsea’s current means. Additionally, it’s been said the club offered €60m for him last year, which was turned down.

**Chelsea could return to last year’s target with a bigger budget**

A collage showing Dean Huijsen and Marc Guehi.

Dean Huijsen and Marc Guehi appear together in a montage. (Photo by Alex Broadway/Getty Images)

Chelsea’s top priority is to move on some existing defenders. After completing those sales, they might have the financial flexibility to submit an offer that comes closer to Araujo’s clause—enough to get Benfica’s attention. Players like Axel Disasi, Renato Veiga, and Trevoh Chalobah could each be sold for over €30m, potentially raising significant funds.

Since Huijsen has a set €50m release clause, the expectation is that Chelsea will pursue him first and evaluate how that plays out. Should difficulties arise in securing him, attention may shift toward someone like Araujo.

—

Would you like this reformatted for a blog post or news article?