What Benfica needs to do in Winter Transfer Window

With the winter transfer window now officially open, Benfica will look to make some minor moves to the squad while resisting making any player sales during this period.

Benfica coach Bruno Lage feels that the current squad has the right pieces to claim the Portuguese League crown and if the club is to look at a move it would be at the right back position, with the club ending the loan of Man City right back Issa Kabore early.

Lage could also look to the Seixal academy to add a player to back up current starter Alexander Bah, with the names of Leandro Santos and Diogo Spencer being mentioned.

Benfica may also look at a winger to provide some relief for 36 year old  Angel di Maria. The club is still competing in four competitions at the moment and would like to manage Di Maria's minutes, so that they continue to get the best from the player.

The winter transfer window will remain open until February 5th, 2025.

 

Benfica being linked to Flamengo center back

Flamengo's 21 year old center back Cleiton is on Benfica's radar as the Lisbon side look to add depth to the back line. Cleiton is in the final year of his contract with Flamengo and open to negotiating with any club in July 2025 and Benfica are counting on Flamengo's fear to lose the player for no return plays into making a deal with the club.

The youngster is not a regular for Flamengo at this time only appearing in 5 games last season but is a left footed center back which is a valuable quality for the position. Benfica are hoping to negotiate an affordable price point with the Brazilian club and could commence talks when the winter transfer window opens in the next couple of days.

Benfica in talks with Chelsea about Joao Felix loan

Benfica are said to be in talks with Chelsea about former Seixal academy graduate Joao Felix according to reports out of Portugal, as the club looks at a possible six month loan spell for the out of favour 25 year old when the transfer window opens up in January.

Chelsea acquired Felix from Atletico Madrid for €52M in the summer, but new Chelsea bench boss Enzo Maresca does not seem to be a fan of the former Golden Boy winner, having used Felix in only 293 minutes of action in the Premier League. Felix has scored once while providing one helper although he does have four markers in the UEFA Conference League.

The rumours of course, have now heated up that Felix is unhappy with his role, or lack of a role with Chelsea and would be open to a move back to Lisbon to join Benfica even if it is only on a temporary basis. Felix would welcome a move that would give him regular playing time.

Felix left Benfica for Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2019 for what is still a club record €127M sale. His career since the departure has been full of highs and lows, with more lows then highs over the past couple of seasons.