Benfica make offer for Portimonense striker Beto

Benfica have made their first approach for Portimonense striker Beto with an €8M offer to purchase the 23 year old. Benfica made the offer to the Algarve club after their recent outing in Week 28 were Beto opened the scoring for Portimonense his 11th league goal of the season. Portimonense are said to be open to only selling 70% of the players rights but are looking for more then the €8M offer and with other clubs like German side Wolfsburg and Portuguese clubs Sporting and FC Porto linked to the player it could drive the price for the Lisbon born striker further.

Beto spent the majority of his youth career with Uniao Recreativa e Desportiva de Tires in Lisbon but did spend a season with Benfica back in 2011. Beto would move to Montijo were he caught the eye of Portimonense after scoring 21 goals in 36 contests. Beto would join Portimonense in the summer of 2019 and spent the majority of the 2019/20 season with Portimonense's Under 23 side were he would finish third in league scoring. Beto is signed with Portimonense until the summer of 2023 so Benfica will need to increase their initial bid if they hope to land the upcoming star.

Benfica linked with Bahia midfielder

According to reports coming from Brazil, Benfica are being linked with a summer move for 21 year old midfielder Patrick de Lucca who applies his trade with Brazilian side Bahia since arriving from Palmeiras' under 20 squad in the summer of 2020. De Lucca has an €8M price tag and any sale of the player would see funds split between three clubs, Bahia 50%, Palmeiras 30% and Portuguesa 20%.

De Lucca has appeared in 16 games for Bahia across all competitions and has scored twice while setting up another. Benfica who will be looking to shore up its midfield during the summer transfer window would do well in acquiring the talented youngster as the clubs midfield has been its achilles heal this season relying strictly on Adel Taarabt's skill to provide any attacking options. Bahia currently has defender German Conti on loan from Benfica and the club could use Conti to lower the price tag further.

 

 

Benfica's final push for Champions League spot

Benfica enter the final five league games sitting in third spot and hoping to land a coveted place in next seasons Champions League group stage by finishing in the top two places in Portugal which would guarantee the club millions. Benfica are currently four points behind second place FC Porto and ten points behind league leaders Sporting and will need a little help while maintaining a perfect run in their final games.

Benfica have the most difficult five games compared to Sporting and FC Porto, a final five that includes three games against clubs in the top six. This includes games against both clubs in front of them at home and a road game against Guimaraes. Benfica's other two games which are both on the road will take place against Tondela and Nacional. 

All is not lost if Benfica do not finish in the top two but their road to the Champions League becomes all that more difficult having to pass two rounds before earning their place all the while keeping an eye on fourth place Braga who still sit within shooting distance of third place just five points back.