Benfica offered jaw-dropping $143.16 million for this Portuguese striker; can be fifth most expensive signing ever

With World Champion Antoine Griezmann confirming that he will be leaving Atletico Madrid to embark on a new journey with the upcoming season, the club has started to look for French striker's replacements and Benfica teen Joao Felix has emerged as the most suitable option. The Portuguese club has been offered a jaw-dropping $143.16 million (126 million euros) for the 19-year-old Portugal striker who has played just one season in top football. The bid was confirmed by Benfica on Wednesday through a statement. 

The club is currently evaluating the offer but is unlikely to turn such a lucrative deal down. "Atletico Madrid submitted a proposal for the acquisition of (Felix) for a total amount of 126,000,000 euros which is being analysed," Benfica said in a statement to the Portuguese Securities Market Commission.

If terms are agreed, the 19-year-old would become the most expensive player in Atletico`s history, smashing the La Liga side`s transfer fee record of 72 million euros to sign France winger Thomas Lemar from AS Monaco last season. He would also become the fifth most expensive signing in history after Neymar, who holds the record after his 222 million euro move to Paris St Germain in 2017, Kylian Mbappe (180 million euros), Philippe Coutinho (142 million pounds [$180 million]) and Ousmane Dembele (105 million euros).

Felix scored 19 times for Benfica last season, which included 15 league goals and a memorable Europa League hat-trick against Eintracht Frankfurt which made him the youngest player to accomplish the feat in the competition. These performances even earned him a call-up to the Portugal national team where he made his international debut and partnered Cristiano Ronaldo up front in their UEFA Nations League semi-final win over Switzerland.

Last month, Atletico's talismanic striker Antoine Griezmann had confirmed that he would leave in the close season. The France international's release clause drops from 200 million euros to 120 million euros on July 1, and Spanish media reported that he has agreed personal terms with La Liga champions Barcelona.