Oscar Cardozo
A Premier League club have upped their efforts to sign Oscar Cardozo. (Reuters)

An unnamed Premier League club have lodged a bid for Benifca striker Oscar Cardozo, reports suggest.

The Paraguayan international has been the focal point of the club's attack for the past six years, regularly finishing at the top of the club's goal scoring charts.

But Benfica tasted bitter disappointment last season in missing out on what would have been a historic treble. Defeats to Chelsea and Vitoria Guimaraes in the Europa League and Portuguese Cup finals were compounded when Jorge Jesus' side missed out on the league title on the last day of the season to bitter rivals FC Porto.

Portuguese reports have suggested the 30-year-old is now searching for a fresh challenge, and has been offered a move to the Premier League after an unnamed English club lodged a bid in the region of €17m for his services, O Jogo report.

While Cardozo has also been linked with a move to Turkish outfit Fenerbahce, the offer from England reportedly trumps any other the club has received for their talismanic forward who struck 17 goals in the Primeira Liga last season.

An incident towards the end of last season may also see Cardozo eased out the door should a sufficient offer come in. In addition to his trophy woes, the Paraguayan was guilty of shoving his manager during their Portuguese Cup final loss. With Jorge Jesus' future at the club assured, Cardozo was touted as the one to leave the Stadium of Light in the aftermath.

Although no Premier League club have been heavily linked with a move for the Benfica forward, a number of clubs are likely to be in the market for an established forward. Given the club in question have come close to meeting Benfica's valuation of Cardozo - as the report suggests - they may be tempted to cash in.

Napoli are also reportedly interested in the imposing forward. The Paraguayan struck a penalty against Rafa Benitez's Chelsea side in the Europa League final, but the Spaniard has reportedly identified the striker as a possible replacement for Edinson Cavani.