Benfica have announced their first positive result of COVID-19 as youngster David Tavares' test samples have returned positive, the midfielder is asymptomatic and currently in isolation away from the club. The 21 year old has already been subjected to a counter analysis which confirmed the initial result. The initial positive test result was conducted on May 8 when the club went through full testing of the squad, technical team and football staff as well as service providers who have direct contact with the club. Benfica also announced that the club will continue to train in accordance with the guidelines provided by the Directorate-General of Health and will have all players, technical team members, staff and service providers that had direct contact with Tavares will have new tests completed in the coming days. Tavares has appeared in two games with the main club this season across all competitions, coming on both times as a substitute.
Benfica continue to search for a potential future replacement for current left back starter Alex Grimaldo and have turned their attention to 19 year old Flamengo left back Ramon Lima. Lima has grown through the Flamengo youth system and has made four appearances for Jorge Jesus' main squad in his time with the Brazilian side. Benfica are closing in on the potential sale of their current starting left back amid the financial uncertainty caused by the current COVID-19 pandemic and are hoping to have alternatives in place when the move is completed and feel that Lima's skills would excel in the clubs current system. No financial numbers are being reported at this time for the acquisition of Lima.
Boavista keeper Helton Leite is all but guaranteed to be a member of Benfica when next season gets under way according to reports from Portugal. The 29 year old keeper would have already been with the club last season but a failed medical due to a serious rupture of the anterior ligament on his right knee suffered last season made Benfica halt the transaction until they were certain that Helton would be able to return to form. Helton joined Boavista in the summer of 2018 after spending time at Botafogo and has appeared in 36 games across all competitions for the northern Portugal club. Benfica have an option of first refusal on any sale that Boavista would want to make for the keeper and are currently in negotiations to finalize the move.
