Tottenham Hotspur could be involved in a huge transfer tussle with several of their Premier League rivals for a 24-year-old Benfica star.While there has been a lot of focus on Spurs’ struggles in the final third this season, the Lilywhites have not covered themselves in glory at the other end of the pitch either.The Micky van de Ven and Jan Paul van Hecke partnership is yet to really settle, with the pair failing to show leadership and communicate clearly during the club’s 3-2 loss against Villa.It has now emerged that Roberto De Zerbi’s men are considering entering the market in January to add more quality in the heart of their defence.Photo by MIGUEL RIOPA/AFP via Getty ImagesTottenham in five-horse race to sign Benfica star Tomas AraujoAccording to a report from TEAMtalk, Benfica centre-back Tomas Araujo has caught the eye of the North London club in the lead-up to the January window.The 24-year-old has established himself as a pillar of the Portuguese club’s defence over recent years after graduating through their academy.Araujo has also won six caps for Portugal, with his impressive passing range and comfort in possession making him an attractive target for several clubs in England.It is revealed that Tottenham’s officials have made the trip to Estadio da Luz to watch the centre-back over the last month, but they are not the only ones to have done so.Newcastle United and Brighton & Hove Albion have also scouted Araujo recently, while Chelsea and Manchester United are also becoming increasingly keen on a move for the defender in January.The 24-year-old is also comfortable at right-back, and this versatility has added to his attraction for English clubs.Spurs may have to wait until next summer to get AraujoHowever, TEAMtalk reports that a January sale of Araujo is ‘unlikely’ as the defender only signed a new four-and-a-half-year deal with Benfica last month.The centre-back’s deal is said to contain a release clause of €80m (£68m), and it is suggested that interested clubs may have to pay that to prise him away mid-season.Benfica have no immediate reason to listen to offers for Araujo, who is a key part of Marco Silva’s plans, and his suitors may thus have to wait until the summer of 2026 to explore a deal for the Portugal international.READ MORE: Tottenham fans will love the outrageous skill Omar Marmoush just pulled off in-gameThe post Tottenham battle four Premier League rivals for Benfica star with £68m release clause appeared first on Spurs Web.