Benfica and Corinthians have agreed to a summer move for winger Pedrinho according to reports coming out of Portugal. Benfica who have been looking for a winger to play the role of summer departure Eduardo Salvio are said to have come to an agreement for the 21 year old right winger to join in the club in the summer in exchange for €20M plus the loan of recently acquired central defender Yony Gonzalvez. Benfica chose to not have Pedrinho join the club during the winter transfer window instead leaving the youngster in Brazil as he trains with the U23 national side in preparation for this summers Olympic games. Details of the acquisition by Benfica are still not fully complete as Corinthians only hold 70% of Pedrinho's playing rights and it has not been reported if Benfica would be acquiring the full 100% value of Pedrinho in the deal. Pedrinho who appeared in 36 games across all competitions for Corinthians last season, scored seven goals while setting up another four helpers. Benfica manager Bruno Lage has been waiting for a right winger for some time and the club looks set to provide Lage with a coveted piece to his player puzzle.
In what was the final transfer day for the majority of European leagues with Portugal being an exception as their transfer window closes on Sunday, Benfica were involved in a few moves as the transfer window wrapped up. Benfica opened the day acquiring striker Dyego Sousa on loan from Chinese club Shenzhen FC until the end of 2020, filling a hole in the striker spot that was caused when the club sold Raul de Tomas earlier this month to Spanish side Espanyol.
Benfica would then end the loan spell of midfielder Chris Willock at West Brom and move the youngster to Huddersfield Town with the player on loan until the end of the season. Benfica then made some minor moves acquiring 19 year olds Diogo Almeida from Pacos Ferreira for an undisclosed amount and Derlis Mereles from Rubio Nu on loan. Benfica also continue in negotiations for Boavista keeper Helton Leite and with Corinthians for midfielder Pedrinho looking to wrap up the deals by Sunday.
Benfica continued their winning ways in the Portuguese League with a 3-2 victory over Lisbon rivals Belenenses in Week 19 action. Bruno Lage made one change to last weekends Week 18 squad resting midfielder Gabriel and starting Taarabt in his place. Benfica got two first half goals from Carlos Vinicius on a great solo effort and the other from Taarabt who fired home an Andre Almeida header from a corner kick for his first league goal of the season. Benfica went into the half with a comfortable 2-0 lead but Belenenses came out harder in the second half and cut the lead to one goal when Lica would flick in a low cross. Benfica would though regain the two goal lead just minutes later as Carlos Vinicius would send in substitute Chiquinho in alone and he would dance around the keeper for his first league goal of the season. Belenenses though would keep fighting and were awarded a penalty when Rafa Silva would take down Varela inside the box. Lica would score his second of the game just getting the ball past an out stretched Vlachodimos but that would be as close as Belenenses would get as Benfica would hang on for the victory. Benfica will now travel to Porto next weekend as they get set to take on FC Porto in the Classico, were a Benfica win over second place Porto could put this league season in their hands.
