Benfica Place €40m Price Tag On Arsenal & Tottenham Target - Report

Benfica are bracing themselves for bids for sought after winger Eduardo Salvio but hope a €40m price tag will dissuade Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal from making their interest in the player formal.

Reports in the Portuguese press have suggested that both Manuel Pellegrini and Andre Villas-Boas are keen on luring the 23-year-old wide man to the Premier League after another splendid season for the Portuguese giants, where the club narrowly missed out on league and Europa League success.

Abola now suggest Spurs and City have been joined by Arsenal in the pursuit of Salvio. Benfica are yet to receive a formal offer for the winger but club president Luis Filipe Vieira is prepared to scare off interest in one of his club's most prized assets with a lofty asking price, one that would require both the north London clubs to shatter their record transfer fees.

Benfica do not find themselves in a desperate position where they must sell their most valued targets, Abola suggest, leaving the club to dictate the terms of any outgoing deals this summer.

Salvio, who was originally brought to Europe by Atletico Madrid in 2010 before seizing the limelight in Lisbon, still stands as the club's record transfer, costing the club €13.5 when he signed a permanent deal last summer.

While the club have seemingly managed to convince reported Manchester United and Chelsea target Nemanja Matic to remain at the club, they could be about to lose other members of their first team. Prolific goal scorer Oscar Cardozo appears to be on the verge of a move to Fenerbahce while key defender Ezequiel Garay is reportedly closing in on a move to Old Trafford.

While Benfica would appear confident of retaining Salvio, comments from his agent Agustin Jimenez made last month suggest that he player himself could have his head turned should one of his suitors follow up their interest in the winger.

"At the moment, his future is undecided," Jimenez told O Jogo. "We need to speak with Benfica and to discuss the options.

"There is interest out there this summer from clubs in England and Italy and I believe they have had contact with Benfica.

"After a big season it is normal that significant clubs will be interested. Now the decision is in the hands of Benfica. Salvio is content at the club but he is open to the possibility of a move."