Ipswich Town face Benfica battle for Štěpán Chaloupek

Ipswich Town and Hull City could miss out on highly-rated Slavia Prague defender Štěpán Chaloupek after Benfica stepped up their pursuit of the Czech international.

According to A Bola, the Portuguese giants have identified the 22-year-old as one of their priority defensive targets as they prepare to replace António Silva, who is expected to complete a move to Bournemouth.

The development increases competition for Chaloupek, who has also attracted interest from the two newly-promoted Premier League clubs following an outstanding campaign in the Czech First League.

Reports from the Czech Republic claim Benfica are prepared to offer €12 million for Chaloupek, although Slavia Prague are believed to value the centre-back closer to €16 million.

A Bola suggests negotiations could ultimately produce a compromise, particularly given Benfica's strong relationship with Slavia Prague following previous transfers involving Alexander Bah and David Jurásek.

For Ipswich and Hull, Benfica's interest presents a significant obstacle, with the Portuguese club also able to offer UEFA Champions League football.

Chaloupek's reputation has grown rapidly over the past year after establishing himself as one of the Czech league's standout defenders.

The centre-back made 39 appearances in all competitions last season, starting 28 matches while contributing an impressive 10 goals and two assists from defence.

His performances earned him the Czech league's Defender of the Year award and a place in the Czech Republic's FIFA World Cup squad.

Although he started against South Korea during the group stage, Chaloupek featured less prominently later in the tournament as the Czech Republic exited before the knockout rounds.

A Bola describes the defender as dominant in aerial duels while noting there is still room for improvement in his distribution and build-up play.

Slavia Prague manager Jindřich Trpišovský recently admitted that Benfica's interest would be difficult for any player to ignore.

"I think another season at Slavia would benefit him, allowing him to become a leader and avoid leaving too early like Jurásek did. But when Benfica come calling, you can't say no," he said.

His comments underline the challenge facing Ipswich Town and Hull City, who may now need to convince Chaloupek that Premier League football offers a more attractive next step than a move to one of Portugal's biggest clubs.

Chaloupek has emerged as one of the most sought-after young defenders in Central Europe, with clubs across England, Portugal and Italy now tracking his progress. While Ipswich and Hull remain interested, Benfica's combination of European football and a proven track record of developing talent could give the Lisbon club a decisive advantage in negotiations.

Benfica are expected to continue negotiations with Slavia Prague as they seek a replacement for António Silva. Ipswich Town and Hull City may yet formalise their interest, but convincing Chaloupek to reject Benfica's project is likely to prove one of the biggest challenges of the transfer race.