Chelsea are seriously weighing up their next move at right-back ahead of the January window, with Benfica teenager Daniel Banjaqui now firmly on the club’s radar. According to TeamTalk , the 18-year-old is viewed as a leading target as Stamford Bridge decision-makers respond to another untimely setback for Reece James.

The situation is clear enough. Chelsea have options in the position, but availability and long-term planning are shaping the discussion. James remains one of the most gifted full-backs in the Premier League when fit, yet the latest injury has again forced the club to assess the depth chart and the succession plan. As reported, he has undergone minor knee surgery and is “expected to rule him out for up to three months”. That immediately changes the short-term landscape and sharpens attention on the winter market.

Banjaqui is one of the names rising quickly in those conversations. He is described as a “technically gifted, attack-minded full-back with the physical attributes to develop into a Premier League regular”, which aligns with Chelsea’s recruitment model in recent years. He is young, high-upside, already gaining senior exposure and, crucially, available at a clearly defined figure if a buying club chooses to act decisively.

Sources cited in the report indicate Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool are all tracking the Benfica academy graduate, who has started to feature more regularly for the first team this season. He has already made appearances in the Primeira Liga and Europa League, and Benfica are understood to value him highly as part of their future.

The financial framework is also straightforward. Benfica hold “a release clause in the region of £38m (€45m, $51m)”, a sum that would test Chelsea’s willingness to invest heavily in another young talent. Yet the wording around the player’s situation is important. Benfica would rather retain him and continue his development, but “they would have little choice but to listen to the offer if the Blues match that price”. That gives Chelsea a clear route if they decide Banjaqui is the right profile to pursue.

LEIRIA, PORTUGAL – OCTOBER 06: Daniel Banjaqui of Portugal celebrating a goal during UEFA EURO, EM, Europameisterschaft,Fussball U21, U 21 Qualifying Round matchday 13 between Portugal and Czechia at Estádio Municipal de Leiria on October 06, 2026 in Leiria, Portugal. Photo by Catia Silva SPP Copyright: xCatiaxSilvax Sportspressphoto_SPR247106

There is little surprise in that thinking. Chelsea have repeatedly shown a preference for securing elite young talent before the market becomes even more crowded or expensive. Banjaqui appears to sit neatly in that category, especially with rival interest building and with his first-team opportunities beginning to increase in Portugal.

The immediate trigger for this renewed focus is obvious. The report describes “another frustrating setback for James”, and Chelsea are once again planning around the absence of their captain. His quality has never been in doubt, but repeated interruptions have made squad-building in his position increasingly complicated.