Aberdeen should slap a minimum £5 million price tag on goal hero Duk ahead of the summer transfer window.
English clubs are reportedly monitoring the Cape Verde international striker with the view to a potential summer swoop.
No surprise there as Luis Lopes, aka Duk, has it all.
Not only does Duk possess scintillating pace, controlled aggression and an eye for goal, he has sublime vision that has lit up many games this season.
Duk has brought light to a dark season for the Dons
The 23-year-old is a joy to watch as he is capable of producing the completely unexpected to turn a game.
Duk has brought some much-needed light to a dark season for the Dons.
His sensational solo goal in the 3-1 defeat of Dundee United underlined his worth.
£5 million price tag
That quality and vision does not come cheap which is why any interested clubs should be looking at a minimum of £5 million to even open talks about landing Duk.
Duk cost around £400,000 from Benfica in the summer but he is worth millions to the Dons.
Not only does he score goals – he is on 13 this season – he also creates chances for team-mates with six assists.
And let’s not forget Duk arrived at Pittodrie short of full match fitness in the summer and took a while to get up to speed.
He only became a regular first team starter in September, yet he has still scored or had a key role in 19 goals.
Anyone questioning a £5 million price tag should watch Duk’s goal against Dundee United.
It was a concise summation of everything that makes the attacker one of the standout signings in Scottish football this season.
It is a mix of driving pace, aggression to charge down and dispossess Ryan Edwards and then that audacious back heeled finish on the run.
Duk’s goal was an absolute joy to watch as I reported on the match at Tannadice.
Later that weekend, I watched the highlights with my 11-year-old son and we both agreed goals like that are why we love football.
👏 Duuuuuuuuuuuukkkkkkkk.#StandFree | #cinchPrem pic.twitter.com/L53AxISfED
— Aberdeen FC (@AberdeenFC) March 4, 2023
For those moments of absolute genius and joy that get fans out of their seats watching in awe.
Upward trajectory
Magic that has supporters talking for days having seen Duk conjure the goal – and then reminiscing years later about the elation of that moment.
Duk is only 23-years-old and far from the finished article.
What is really exciting about the attacker is that he looks to be on an upward trajectory where he will get better and better.
Aberdeen will hope that is at Pittodrie as he spearheads a charge for success under a new manager when eventually appointed.
Duk excites fans and terrorises opponents which is a combination that is expensive.
A class act Duk has a strong pedigree having progressed through the Benfica youth system.
The Portuguese giants have the most profitable academy in the world.
Data gathered by the CIES Football Observatory Weekly Post earlier this year listed Benfica top club worldwide for generating fees from the sale of players from their Youth Academy.
Benfica generated €379 million (£335 million) from the sale of players since July 2015.
Real Madrid were second with €330 million (£291 million) with AS Monaco third overall at €285 million (£252 million).
It is estimated Benfica have generated £1.14 billion in transfer sales over the past decade.
Benfica also have the opportunity to play young talent in the Portuguese second division – a key learning process.
Duk came through the same Benfica system as Celtic attacker Jota.
The Dons attacker scored 11 times in 42 appearances for Benfica B in Liga Portugal B with Jota scoring nine in 47.
During his time with Benfica’s U23 side, Duk netted 18 times in 41 appearances.
Aberdeen offered Duk a platform to shine and he has taken it.
If any English club wants to stop him burning bright at Pittodrie next season they will have to pay at least £5 million.
Third place must be the Dons’ target
What a difference six weeks, and interim boss Barry Robson, have made for Aberdeen.
At the end of the winter transfer window, the Dons were in crisis.
A 1-0 Scottish Cup exit to sixth tier Darvel came on the back of a 5-0 loss at Hearts.
Aberdeen responded to the hammering at Tynecastle by serving up the worst result in the club’s proud 120 year history just days later.
Then came another low with the 6-0 loss at Hibs and the inevitable sacking of Jim Goodwin immediately after that defeat.
In late January the only way seemed down for Aberdeen.
However interim boss Robson has guided them back to form and back into contention for European qualification.
And against the odds back into the mix to finish third.
A prospect of finishing third in late January seemed as likely as Elvis riding the Loch Ness Monster down Pittodrie Street.
But against the odds here we are.
If Aberdeen defeat third-placed Hearts on Saturday it will slash the gap on the Edinburgh club to just four points.
Robson has brought not just stability to the club but also an upturn in fortunes.
It has given the Pittodrie hierarchy breathing space in the search for a new manager.
The Dons have now whittled down the candidates to a shortlist.
If Robson can oversee a win against Hearts surely he will be on it.
Andrew Smart targeting rematch
Elgin welterweight Andrew Smart will hopefully get the chance to go for Scottish title glory against Robbie Graham again.
Smart lost 97-94 to Graham in a national title clash at the Ardoe House Hotel in Aberdeen on Saturday.
Both Smart and Graham boasted 100% professional records going into the fight so something had to give.
Smart felt he did enough to win the fight and has called for a rematch.
Hopefully, Graham agrees to go again.
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