Porto, Benfica and Lens Interested in Tiknizyan

Portuguese clubs Porto and Benfica are showing genuine interest in Red Star defender Nair Tiknizyan. The clubs sent scouts to the team’s away UEFA Europa League match against Braga. Earlier, Red Star also played away against Porto.

Despite Red Star’s defeat and Tiknizyan’s modest match rating, representatives from Portugal were generally pleased with the Armenian national team defender's performance and will continue monitoring him.

Tiknizyan has only one assist in 17 matches across all competitions this season, but experts highlight his significant off-the-ball work. Additionally, he no longer plays as a purely attacking full-back in Serbia — his flank is rarely covered, yet his pace and physical condition allow him to quickly return to defense. Tiknizyan himself has noted the difference between the Russian and Serbian leagues, favoring the RPL, suggesting he is ready for more responsibility on the pitch. With his adaptation now complete, his first goal for Red Star may come soon.

Recently, Tiknizyan’s agent Alexander Klyuev confirmed interest from Porto, stating that Red Star is open to a reasonable offer. The defender joined the Serbian club from Lokomotiv for €4 million. Interestingly, Klyuev did not mention Benfica or French side Lens — and no scouts from Lens were seen at the recent Europa League matches. However, he did reveal that AEK Larnaca head coach Marko Nikolic contacted him about Tiknizyan, but by then the agreement with Red Star had already been finalized.

Thus, Porto currently appears to be the most realistic next step in Tiknizyan’s career. Competition there is stronger than at Red Star, with two established left-backs already in the squad. However, Tiknizyan’s versatility and physical qualities could allow him to challenge for playing time, and he may even be deployed higher up the flank when needed.