Benfica ended a busy day in the transaction front as the transfer window is set to close for many of Europe's top leagues on January 31, while the Portuguese League window closes on February 2. Benfica started the day with the signing of youngster Jota to a new contract that takes him into the end of the 2023/24 season, the deal includes a raise for the 20 year old and Benfica have increased his buyout clause to €88M.
Benfica was then linked with a few moves in the transfer market, the first is a move for Corinthians winger Pedrinho with the players agent rumoured to currently be in Lisbon discussing terms with Benfica President Luis Filipe Vieira. The second link was a move out of Benfica for winger Franco Cervi to Mexican club Tigres. Benfica was also linked again with Boavista keeper Helton Leite as the look for a veteran keeper to back up current starter Vlachodimos. Benfica ended the day announcing the loan move of midfielder Ljubomir Fejsa to Spanish side Alaves until seasons end, Fejsa last appeared in a competitive game for Benfica on October 2 when the club traveled to Russia for a Champions League encounter against Zenit. The next 72 hours should be an exciting time for Benfica fans as the club looks to finalize any late moves to strengthen the club in their push towards the second half of the season.
Benfica have made a decision about young defensive midfielder Florentino when it comes to a loan move during the transfer window to Italian club AC Milan and that is that the Lisbon side will hang onto the 20 year old at least until season end. The two sides have been heavily linked over the past ten days with reports stating that Florentino would head to Milan on an 18 month loan deal with an option to buy for €40M, but Benfica manager Bruno Lage has no interest in seeing Florentino leave the club and has had discussions with Benfica President LFV about this. Florentino who signed a new contract over the summer with a buy out clause of €120M has not appeared in a league game for Benfica since early November and has appeared in 13 games across all competitions this season. Florentino was a key member of last seasons second half squad, who over turned a seven point deficit to win the Portuguese League but with the recent acquisition of Julian Weigl, Florentino's playing time will be greatly reduced. Benfica are set to sit with Florentino to discuss their expectations from the youngster as they look to win another league championship.
Benfica are still looking for a striker to replace the recently departed Raul de Tomas and with the club being linked to various strikers outside Portugal it may just be time that Benfica take a look within the Portuguese league to add a third string striker in case of injuries to current strikers Carlos Vinicius and Haris Seferovic.
The clubs current strikers on the B squad are both under the age of 21 and without any minutes in the top league for either, the club would be taking a big risk if they do not shore up the position with half a season in front of them. A move for a striker within the league would land the club with a player who is famaliar with the style of league play and also not break the bank. There are a handful of strikers that Benfica can turn to that are having respectable seasons for their current respective clubs, some of the names that come to mind are Rio Ave's Taremi, Gil Vicente's Sandro Lima, Aves' Mohammadi and Famalicao youngsters Anderson Silva and Toni Martinez.
