According to reports coming from Portugal Dutch side Ajax are interested in landing Benfica starting keeper Vlachodimos next summer to replace their current starting keeper Andre Onana who looks set to depart with links to some of Europe's bigger clubs.
Vlachodimos who joined Benfica in the summer of 2018 for €2.5M from Greek club Panathinaikos is the replacement that Ajax favour but Benfica would not let their current number one depart for anything less then €15M. Vlachodimos has appeared in 72 games across all competitions since joining Benfica and has kept a clean sheet in 44% of the games for 32 in total. Benfica have spent the past 6 months looking for a keeper to battle Vlachodimos for the starting job but have yet to land that said keeper and the Greek International is currently being backed up by 22 year old Ivan Zlobin.
Benfica eked out a victory at Guimaraes this weekend in Week 15 action to remain ahead of FC Porto by four points in the race for the League Championship. Benfica got a first half goal from Franco Cervi at the 23rd minute mark when the Argentine winger picked up a Pizzi cross into the box and had his low shoot get past Guimaraes keeper Douglas. The hosts Guimaraes though keep pressuring as they looked for an equalizer before the half but Vlachodimos came up big twice first turning away Lucas Evangelista's strike and then denying Marcus Edwards byline attempt. The second half saw Guimaraes keep the pressure coming but Benfica would hang on and earn their league leading eleventh clean sheet of the season in a hard fought 1-0 win. Benfica return to action on Friday at home in Week 16 action against cellar dweller Aves but a midweek quarter final Taca de Portugal game against Rio Ave.
Benfica open the 2020 season in Week 15 with an away game to take on Guimaraes in Portuguese League action. Benfica will be looking to send Guimaraes a message of the Northern Portugal club topped their Taca da Liga group moving onto the semi-finals of the tournament. Benfica will play Guimaraes at 8:30pm WEST.
They will dress 18 players from the list below.
Keepers- Vlachodimos, Ivan Zlobin
Defenders- Tomas Tavares, Jardel, Alex Grimaldo, Ruben Dias, Ferro, Andre Almeida,
Midfielders- Chiquinho, Pizzi, Gabriel, Franco Cervi, Samaris, Caio Lucas, Gedson Fernandes, Florentino, Taarabt
Forwards- Carlos Vinicius, Seferovic, Raul de Tomas
