Milan make contact with Benfica for striker Nunez

Italian side AC Milan have been in contact with Benfica representatives about their interest in acquiring striker Darwin Nunez for next season as the Milan club looks to bolster their attack. Milan currently have two strikers soon to be over the age of 35 in Ibrahimovic and Mandzukic and with both strikers more prone to injuries, they prefer a youngster  to link up with Portuguese striker Rafael Leao. Milan wants a more reliable striker as they look set to make a return to Champions League action.

Nunez who was acquired by Benfica over the summer from Almeria for a club record €24M has appeared in 34 games across all competitions scoring twelve goals while setting up another nine but has been hampered by an injury over the last month or so. AC Milan are said to have opened the bidding at €50M for Nunez but Benfica value the 21 year old at a more hefty price based on his €150M buy out clause. The negotiations are at their infancy and you can expect the price to go up higher if Milan are serious in acquiring the Uruguayan international.

Benfica President tells Jesus to use academy players

Benfica President Luis Filipe Vieira has already informed manager Jorge Jesus to not expect the type of funds spent last summer on players and for the Benfica manager to use academy players that will be returning to the club from their loans for next season. Benfica spent a record €115.5M on new player acquisitions in the summer but has seen little return on their investment with the club currently sitting in fourth place in the league and besides making the Taca de Portugal final is out of all other competitions.

Benfica also failed in reaching this seasons Champions League group stage which resulted in the club selling star center back Ruben Dias to make up the lost revenue. Benfica currently have academy players Gedson Fernandes, Jota, Florentino, Ferro, Tiago Dantas and Tomas Tavares on loan elsewhere but Jesus in his typical stubborn fashion feels that these players are not ready to play for the club at this time. Benfica currently have only three academy players with the club in Diogo Goncalves, Goncalo Ramos and Nuno Tavares, with only Goncalves seeing regular playing time.

Benfica players set for International duty

Benfica gets set for a pause in action with the International break upon us after Sunday's game against Braga and will only return to action on April 3rd against Maritimo which is almost a full two weeks without any real game action. Jorge Jesus will still be working with the players that remain as they look to continue their better play of late but will be without the players below who will be on International duty with their respective countries, South American nations are not in action again until June.

Portugal - Rafa Silva

Greece - Odysseas Vlachodimos

Morocco - Adel Taarabt

Belgium, Germany and Switzerland have yet to announce their squads which could see Jan Vertonghen, Luca Waldschmidt and Haris Seferovic depart as well for qualifiers.