Benfica to land Yaremchuk from Gent

Ukrainian striker Roman Yaremchuk arrived in Lisbon late last night with Benfica director Rui Pedro Braz to finalize his move to Benfica after weeks of speculation. Benfica are said to have agreed to pay Belgian club Gent €15M for the 25 year old's rights and will sign Yaremchuk to a contract for five seasons. The signing should see Benfica cash in on current strikers Haris Seferovic and Carlos Vinicius as they look to whittle down the congestion in the forward position. Yaremchuk has spent the past four seasons with Gent were he has appeared in 152 games across all competitions, scoring 61 goals while setting up an additional 18.

Benfica release Champions League roster

Benfica have announced their roster for their upcoming first leg Champions League game against Spartak Moscow on August 4 at 6pm WEST. Benfica have left Ferro, Gabriel, Samaris and Jota off the squad while Andre Almeida and Darwin Nunez are out with injuries.

Keepers- Helton Leite, Vlachodimos, Mile Svilar

Defenders- Gilberto, Jan Vertonghen, Nicolas Otamendi, Morato, Lucas Verissimo, Alex Grimaldo

Midfielders- Julian Weigl, Pizzi, Taarabt, Joao Mario, Chiquinho, Gil Dias, Florentino, Gedson Fernandes, Meite, Diogo Goncalves

Forwards- Seferovic, Carlos Vinicius, Rodrigo Pinho, Everton, Rafa Silva, Waldschmidt

Extras B List - Goncalo Ramos, Paulo Bernardo, Tomas Araujo

Benfica linked to Utrecht winger

The Dutch press are reporting that Benfica are interested in landing Utrecht winger Gyrano Kerk during this transfer window as the Lisbon side continues their search to bolster their squad for the upcoming season. The 25 year old has also been linked with a move to Anderlecht who are said to have already had a €4M offer rejected by the Dutch club.

Kerk has been with Utrecht since joining their U19 club during the summer of 2012 and became a regular member of the main squad during the 2016/17 season. Kerk has appeared in 173 games across all competitions for Utrecht, scoring 42 goals while setting up an additional 43. Benfica will need an offer of around €10M for Utrecht to part ways with the winger. 

Benfica and Roma inquire about Getafe midfielder

According to Spanish page MARCA both Benfica and Roma have spoken to Getafe officials about the current status of Serbian midfielder Nemanja Maksimovic but neither club has yet to make a formal offer for the 26 year old's services. Any negotiations for Maksimovic won't be easy as Valencia still hold 30% of the players rights and Getafe is looking for a knockout offer to proceed with any sale.

Maksimovic joined Getafe in the summer of 2018 for €10M and has appeared in 118 games across all competitions, scoring four goals while setting up one in his time with the club. Maksimovic has also seen time with Valencia, Astana and Verona's U19 side in his playing career and has earned 31 caps for the Serbian national side.

Pedro Pereira returns to Italy on loan

Benfica right back Pedro Pereira will be returning to Italy to join Serie B side Monza on loan with a mandatory option to make the move permanent in January for €3M. The 25 year old has a tonne of experience playing in Italy already having appeared with Sampdoria, Genoa and last season as a member of Crotone. 

Benfica acquired Pereira in the winter of 2017 from Sampdoria for €2.66M but he has appeared in only one league game with the club, spending the majority of his time as member away on loan. Pereira joins U21 international Danny Mota at Monza as the Italian side looks to earn promotion to Serie A.

Rui Vitoria's Spartak first test in Champions League qualification

Benfica's quest to land in the Champions League group stage and all the millions that are involved for qualifying for UEFA's premier club event is set to kick off against former bench boss Rui Vitoria's Spartak Moscow. Benfica found out their opponents in the 3rd qualifying round of the Champions League earlier today in Nyon, Switzerland and are set to face the Russian side on either August 3/4 in Moscow and August 10 in Lisbon.

A win by Benfica will move them into the final playoff which will put them one tie away from the group stage while a loss will see the club fall into the Europa League group stage for a second straight season. Rui Vitoria managed Benfica from the summer of 2015 until he was let go midway through the 2018/19 season. Vitoria won two Portuguese League titles along with a Taca de Portugal, League Cup and Super Cup in his time at the helm.

Benfica and Spartak's only other encounter in UEFA action came in the Group Stage of the 2012/13 Champions League which saw both clubs win at home in their two games played. Benfica finished 3rd in the group that year and went all the way to the Europa League finals were they lost 2-1 to Chelsea on a heartbreaking additional time goal.

Benfica linked to yet another midfielder

With the struggle in obtaining Braga midfielder Al Musrati, Benfica are looking for alternatives to add to their midfield and are now linked to Torino midfielder Soualiho Meite who spent the second half of last season on loan at AC Milan. Having secured Joao Mario earlier in the week, Benfica are hoping to land one more midfielder for Jorge Jesus' squad who can play in the number 6 position.

Meite is just another name on a long list of midfielders linked to the club this summer which has included Willian Arao, Steven Nzonzi along with Musrati. Meite has been a member of Torino since the summer of 2018 when he joined from Monaco for €11.5M. Meite appeared in 37 games across all competitions last season between Torino and AC Milan, scoring once while setting up four goals.

Benfica linked to Diego Costa once again

Benfica are once again being linked with Spanish striker Diego Costa who has been without club since January of this year after mutually agreeing to part ways with Atletico Madrid. According to Spanish publication AS, Costa is intrigued by a return to Portugal, were he spent time in 2006 and 2007 as a member of Braga and Penafiel.

The 32 year old striker prefers a move to join Benfica and although reports state that Benfica reached an agreement with the striker months ago, it is said to depend on the clubs qualification for the Champions League this season. The Brazilian born Spanish International has spent most of his playing career in Spain with a spell in between in England with Chelsea, but has spent a lot of time the past few seasons injured.

Benfica might be wise to avoid a move for Costa due to this fact, as the club currently has Haris Seferovic, Carlos Vinicius, Luca Waldschmidt, Rodrigo Pinho and the currently injured Darwin Nunez along with youngster Goncalo Ramos in a crowded striker position. The club would be wise to use its resources to fill more important needs in the left and right back positions.

Benfica linked to Gent striker from Ukraine

Benfica continue to shop around as they look to strengthen their line up for the 2021/22 season and reports from Belgian site Voetbal24 have the club linked to Gent striker Roman Yaremchuk. Yaremchuk joined Gent in the summer of 2017 from Dynamo Kiev for a mere €2M and has since appeared in 152 games across all competitions for the club, scoring 61 goals. 

Voetbal24 reports that Yaremchuk has given Gent the go ahead to make a move this summer and although AC Milan and West Ham have also been linked with the striker, Yaremchuk is said to prefer a move to Benfica. The only obstacle in place is Gent's price tag on Yaremchuk which is set at €25M but Benfica are currently working on negotiating a lower fee.

The 25 year old was recently a member of Ukraine's 2020 Euro squad, scoring twice in his nations quarter-final run and any move for Yaremchuk would certainly see Benfica move out a striker or two from its current line up with Haris Seferovic and Carlos Vinicius the two most likely to depart the club with his arrival.

Jorge Jesus tired of waiting on Al Musrati wants Arao

Benfica bench boss Jorge Jesus has asked the club to go after one of his former Flamengo players in defensive midfielder Willian Arao according to reports from Portugal. Jesus is frustrated with the progress that the club has made on Braga's Al Musrati and wants to shore up his midfield with the season less then a month away.

Jesus is a fan of Arao's characteristics and what he can bring to the number six position, the move would also cost substantially less then the acquisition of Musrati. Jesus asked the club for two new midfielders this off season and with Joao Mario close to joining the club, Arao would be the second midfielder.

Arao has been with Flamengo since January 2016 and has appeared in 231 games for the club across all competitions, scoring 19 goals while setting up an additional 19. Arao has spent his entire playing career in Brazil and a move to Benfica would be the first time playing abroad for the 29 year old. Arao was a member of Jesus' 2019 Copa Libertadores squad.

Benfica 2021/22 season schedule released

The Portuguese League released the 2021/22 season schedule earlier today and Benfica have learned their path to reclaiming glory during the upcoming campaign. Benfica will open the season on the road against Moreirense in August and kick off their home league schedule the following week against recently promoted Arouca at the Estadio da Luz.

Benfica will face Sporting in the Lisbon Derby in Week 13 when they host last seasons league champions. Benfica will travel to Porto for the Classico in Week 16 facing FC Porto at the Dragao, other notable encounters are a Week 5 match up in the Acores against Santa Clara, they host Braga in Week 11 and end the season on the road at Pacos Ferreira.

                CLICK BELOW TO ENLARGE SCHEDULE

Benfica interested in Werder Bremen midfielder

Benfica's search for midfield help has them now linked with Werder Bremen's attacking midfielder Leonardo Bittencourt according to German publication Bild. The 27 year old looks set to head elsewhere after the historic German club was relegated to the second division for the coming season. Bremen are said to be open to moving Bittencourt for a mere €5M.

Benfica have previously been linked to Bittencourt during the summer of 2018 but the German born midfielder declined to leave Germany instead opting for a move from Cologne who he was with at the time and joining Hoffenheim. Bittencourt appeared in 29 games across all competitions last season, scoring five goals while setting up two.

Benfica's Seferovic the apple of English clubs eyes

Benfica striker Haris Seferovic has gained the attention of various clubs mostly from the English Premiership after a terrific performance at Euro 2020 were the 29 year old Swiss International scored 3 goals with a pair coming in a round of 16 clash against France that saw the Swiss advance on penalties. Seferovic has been linked with Tottenham, Everton, West Ham and Wolverhampton over the past couple of weeks.

Seferovic finished the 2020/21 season as Benfica's top scorer with 26 goals across all competitions and has scored 69 goals since joining the Lisbon side in the summer of 2017 on a free transfer from Eintracht Frankfurt. Seferovic has won one league championship and two Super Cups in his time at the club, along with the golden boot during the 2018/19 campaign. 

Benfica are said to have increased their price tag on Seferovic to around €30M after his Euro display, Seferovic is signed with the club until the summer of 2024. Benfica has an abundance of strikers at their disposal and the sale of Seferovic this summer could see the club hang onto Carlos Vinicius who spent the 2020/21 season on loan at Tottenham but returned to the club after the English side decided to not activate the buy option of €40M on the player.

Benfica reach agreement with Electronic Arts (EA)

Benfica announce that it and video game maker Electronic Arts (EA) have reached an agreement to renew their partnership going forward. Electronic Arts is the maker of the hugely popular series FIFA which is released under it's label EA Sports. Benfica CEO Domingos Oliveira released a statement during the announcement that stated the two companies are committed to technology as a driving force for their development and it is natural that they should stay together. The renewal demonstrates the value of Benfica by global leading partners in their industries. Benfica also stated that they will soon announce joint actions with EA Sports which may include the clubs stadium the Estadio da Luz being added to the FIFA series of games.

Benfica and Sporting to battle for Algarve Cup

Benfica and Sporting are set to battle in a pre-season tournament taking place in the Algarve between July 14 to 18 at the Algarve Stadium near Faro. Benfica and Sporting will be joined in the competition by Boavista and Belgian side Gent. Benfica and Sporting will not actually meet in the four game tournament but will both play Boavista and Gent with the first place team awarded the Algarve Cup.

July 14 Sporting vs Gent

July 15 Sporting vs Boavista

July 16 Benfica vs Gent

July 18 Benfica vs Boavista