Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea have made contact over a move for Sporting’s Maxi Araújo, a source has informed Sport Witness.
The left-back’s performances for the Lions have clearly not gone unnoticed in England.
Tottenham and Chelsea are among several clubs keeping a close watch on the Sporting player.
The Uruguay international is a product of Montevideo Wanderers and made his way into their first team in 2018. He moved to Club Puebla in January 2020 and three years later, joined another Mexican side, Toluca.
Maxi Araújo spent over 18 months with Toluca and left them for Sporting in August 2024. Ruben Amorim was in charge and utilised him mainly as a left wing-back and at times as a winger before moving to Manchester United in November 2024.
Rui Borges, Sporting manager since December 2024, has mainly used Araújo in his preferred role as a left-back. He’s played 62 matches under the current boss and 35 were on the left side of the defence, 22 were as a wing-back and the rest as a winger.
This season, the 26-year-old mainly operated as a left-back, managing six goals and four assists from 35 matches.
Tottenham and Chelsea among PL suitors
On Saturday, we covered claims from Portugal that Spurs, the Blues, Atlético Madrid and AC Milan sent their scouts to follow the versatile player with €80m release clause. Record reported Sporting want to offer him an extension
A source has since confirmed to Sport Witness that Tottenham and Chelsea are following him, and both clubs have made contact. As well as the Premier League duo, other English clubs have also made approaches. However, we haven’t been able to verify their details.
The same source revealed there’s been no talks with Sporting over a new deal. This should please the English clubs, if they were to make further advances in the summer window
It’s unclear whether Spurs, Chelsea and other English clubs will convert their approaches into concrete offers.
Transfermarkt value Maxi Araújo at €25m and that has been on an upward trend since June 2024, when it was €5.5m. This gives an indication of the South American’s rise since joining Sporting.
Why Spurs better option that Chelsea
Liam Rosenior now has Marc Cucurella, Jorrel Hato and Caleb Wiley as the three left-backs at Stamford Bridge.
Cucurella, 27, has a contract until 2028 and has been first choice. That may not change if he’s at the club next season.
On the other hand, Destiny Udogie and Djed Spence are the two left-backs at Igor Tudor’s disposal at Tottenham.