Raul de Tomas' summer move from Real Madrid to Benfica for €20M has yet to pane out for both the striker and club. De Tomas has yet to register a league goal or an assist in seven appearances and has scored just twice in 16 games across all competitions. Benfica manager Bruno Lage is set at this time on selecting strikers Carlos Vinicius and Haris Seferovic ahead of this summers key addition, so much so that De Tomas has even lost his spot on the substitute bench in the teams last four matches. The Spanish striker is said to be frustrated with his lack of playing time and according to Spanish newspaper El Confidencial would be open to a loan move back to Spain once the transfer window opens in January. The loan move is easier said then done with De Tomas as his €2M annual salary would be a deterrent for many clubs in Spain. Bruno Lage would also be reluctant to allow the striker to leave in January as any injury to Vinicius or Seferovic would present a problem for the club if it does not have an adequate striking option to replace either man in their fight for the Portuguese crown. The 25 year old has had a tough adjustment to Portuguese football but the striker will need to continue to work and await his next opportunity and prove to himself, the club and the fans that his almost record breaking signing was not in vein.
Benfica moved into the Taca de Portugal quarter finals with a come from behind victory over Braga at the Estadio da Luz. Benfica who fell behind on an own goal by Ferro just 14 minutes into the game saw Pizzi and Carlos Vinicius continue their fine forms of late as each player chipped in a goal in each half to give Benfica the 2-1 win. Benfica manger made just one change from Saturdays squad inserting Zlobin in place of Vlachodimos as he looked to defeat Braga in a crucial encounter. Benfica will now await the upcoming draw to find out who their quarter final opponents will be.
According to reports coming from German tabloid newspaper Bild, Benfica are currently in discussions with the agent of Borussia Dortmund's defensive midfielder Julian Weigl. Benfica would like the 24 year old to make the move to the Luz when the January transfer window opens as they look to shore up a position that the club is currently lacking in. Weigl who is no longer a regular choice of Dortmund manager Lucien Favre is in favour of a move out of the German club in January whether it be on loan or on permanent basis. Weigl joined Dortmund in the summer of 2015 from 1860 Munich for a transfer fee of €2.5M and has appeared in 170 games across all competitions for the German side. Weigl has also appeared in five games with the German national side after earning his first cap in May 2016. Benfica who currently have an aging and often injured Fejsa and an inexperienced Florentino in the defensive midfield role with a sprinkle of Greek midfielder Samaris when Lage feels the need, would have an instant upgrade in the position with the acquisition of Weigl and the German national could expect regular minutes with the Lisbon club.
