Tottenham handed Andreas Schjelderup boost as Benfica talks stall

Tottenham Hotspur have been handed fresh encouragement in their pursuit of Andreas Schjelderup after the Benfica winger reportedly resisted the club's latest contract offer.

The 22-year-old remains one of Benfica's most important players, but uncertainty over his long-term future has placed the Portuguese giants under increasing pressure as interest from across Europe continues to grow.

Despite Benfica's determination to keep the Norway international, a summer departure is becoming an increasingly realistic possibility if no breakthrough is reached.

Benfica have made Schjelderup a priority renewal case and recently presented the winger with a lucrative new contract.

The proposal would extend his current deal until 2031, adding three years to his existing contract, and is reportedly worth €18 million over five seasons.

However, according to A Bola, Schjelderup has yet to give Benfica a positive response and currently has no intention of signing a new agreement.

That leaves the Portuguese club facing a difficult decision over whether to cash in this summer or risk seeing his value fall as his contract moves closer to its final years.

Tottenham remain among the clubs closely following Schjelderup's situation, with interest also arriving from elsewhere in England and Italy.

The winger is understood to be open to taking the next step in his career, while Benfica will reportedly only consider offers exceeding €40 million.

Although the Lisbon club have no desire to lose one of their brightest talents, they are aware that failing to secure a contract extension could weaken their negotiating position in future windows.

Schjelderup enjoyed an outstanding second half of last season, producing impressive performances in both the Champions League and the FIFA Club World Cup.

His resurgence under José Mourinho transformed him into one of Benfica's most valuable assets, and new head coach Marco Silva reportedly views him as a key player heading into the new campaign.

Even after the arrival of Kaminski, Benfica believe replacing Schjelderup would require another high-quality attacking signing should he depart this summer.

Benfica are desperate to keep Schjelderup, but the winger's reluctance to sign a new contract has strengthened Tottenham's hopes of securing a deal. Unless negotiations over a renewal change quickly, the Portuguese club may be forced to seriously consider sizeable offers before the transfer window closes.

Benfica will continue trying to convince Schjelderup to sign a new contract while monitoring interest from Tottenham and other European clubs. If no agreement is reached, pressure will increase on the Portuguese side to decide whether to sell before the end of the summer transfer window.