It's time Marco Silva insert Schjelderup into the starting lineup

For Benfica head coach Marco Silva, maximizing structural balance means shifting away from Georgiy Sudakov to start Andreas Schjelderup. While Sudakov brings immense ball-retention talent as a central playmaker, his tendency to drop deep often crowds the midfield and slows transitions.

The Tactical Blueprint: Schjelderup on the Left  

To optimize Silva’s high-risk, high-reward attacking system, Schjelderup needs to be given the nod. The Norwegian is a natural left winger. Deployed wide left, he stretches the pitch, isolates fullbacks, and cuts inside with deadly verticality.
 

The Wing Connection: Unlocking Prestianni

Crucially, starting Schjelderup unlocks an electrifying connection with Gianluca Prestianni. Prestianni, operating dynamically as the inverted right winger, thrives when given space to switch play and drift centrally. By pulling the opposition's defensive lines apart from the flanks, Schjelderup keeps the defensive block stretched. This allows Prestianni the freedom to overload the final third and feed the strikers. 

The Final Piece: Rafa Silva in the Pocket 

Completing this tactical fluid framework, Rafa Silva slots perfectly into his optimal position as an elite second striker or attacking central number ten. Playing in the pocket behind the primary striker, Rafa uses his blistering acceleration to exploit the massive gaps created by Schjelderup and Prestianni’s wide movements. 

For Marco Silva, starting Schjelderup isn’t just a personnel swap; it is the key to making the Eagles' attack even more potent.

Benfica's Summer 2026 Transfer Recap

Benfica completed a highly profitable squad restructuring during the summer 2026 transfer window, balancing elite incoming talent with lucrative player sales.

Strategic Arrivals 

The Portuguese giants heavily reinforced their midfield and defensive ranks. Benfica secured midfielder Joao Palhinha from Bayern Munich for €14 million, while Italian defender Alessandro Circati arrived from Parma in an €18 million deal. Looking to add creative spark, Jakub Kaminski joined from Cologne for €17 million while defensive midfielder Enzo Barrenechea was purchased from Aston Villa for €12 million and Georgiy Sudakov was bought from Shakhtar Donetsk for €20.25 million.

Benfica also added depth through the transfer of center-back Gabriel Indio for €4 million. On the loan front, the Eagles negotiated a high-profile season-long loan deal for Al-Nassr striker Jhon Duran who cost the club €6.2 million, alongside veteran defender Clement Lenglet from Atletico de Madrid. In the past twenty-four hours the club also added attacking midfielder Claudio Echeverri from Manchester City and left back Souffian El Karouani arrived from Al-Qadisiyah on season-long loans with options to buy.

Major Departures

Benfica's outgoing business generated massive revenue this summer. Newcastle United signed defender Amar Dedic for a staggering €35.9 million and Premier League side Bournemouth secured center-back Antonio Silva for €25 million. Sidney Cabral moved to Trabzonspor for €7 million.

Furthermore, midfielder Orkun Kokcu had his loan move to Besiktas made permanent for a €30 million fee, as did Florentino who brought in €25 million from his permanent move to Burnley. Gustavo Marques added an additional €3.5 million from RB Bragantino. 

The club also streamlined the squad, sending out left back Rafa Obrador (Sassuolo), winger, Tiago Gouveia (Genclerbirligi) and striker Franjo Ivanovic (Lens €2.5M) out on season-long development loans. Joining them in a loan move the past twenty four hours was midfielder Richard Rios (Al-Ittihad €4M).

Eagle Eyed Business

As the transfer window gets set to close, Benfica go into the season with a surplus in moves of €37.05 million which will come in handy with the club missing out on this seasons lucrative Champions League purse. The club will still compete in Europe but in the much less profitable Europa League campaign.

Benfica looking to make moves as window gets set to close

As the summer transfer window prepares to slam shut, SL Benfica is racing against the clock. Club president Rui Costa has acknowledged that the squad is not yet finalized. Under new manager Marco Silva, the Portuguese giants are orchestrating key final maneuvers to perfect their roster.

The Target Arrivals 

Benfica is heavily prioritizing creative midfield reinforcement before tomorrow's deadline. Negotiations are rapidly progressing with Manchester City to secure a loan deal for attacking midfielder Claudio Echeverri. The 20-year-old Argentine playmaker is highly sought after to add attacking flair to the squad. Additionally, Benfica has explored a move for Almeria's Sergio Arribas and has also been linked with a late push for Wolves defender Hugo Bueno. The club is also close to announcing the acquisition of left back Souffian El Karouani. These potential additions follow the major permanent signings of Joao Palhinha and defender Alessandro Circati earlier in the month.

Potential Departures 

To balance the books and streamline the squad, several exits are also being mapped out. Midfielder Richard Rios is the subject of heavy interest from English side Hull City, who submitted a €30 million opening bid. Ríos is reportedly eager for a Premier League move. There are also indications that goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin could be moved on if a suitable offer materializes. The club is also listening to offers for winger Dodi Lukebakio. Meanwhile, the club has fought off interest for winger Andreas Schjelderup, with Silva viewing him as essential for the campaign ahead. 

Although the Portuguese League window closes on September 15, the majority of leagues will be closing in the next 96 hours. Benfica's hierarchy faces intense pressure to lock down these crucial incoming and outgoing deals as they turn their attention to the season ahead.