Benfica to test Genk resolve on leading scorer

Benfica have started to look around with the hopes of adding another striker to replace Arthur Cabral who is looking likely to join M.L.S. club Atlanta United. The American side have been aggressive in their pursuit of the Brazilian striker and now are rumoured to be ready to go as high as $18M for his services.

Reports coming from Africa state that Benfica have turned their attention to the Belgian Pro League's leading scorer, Tolu Arokodare. The Genk striker has scored fourteen goals in league play while providing six helpers in 23 games of action while chipping in another two goals and an assist in Belgian Cup play. 

The Nigerian striker has been with Genk since joining from French side Amiens in the winter of 2023 for €5M and is in the middle of his best season as a pro player. Genk are said to be hesitant to move on from the 24 year old who has been a key member of their first place squad.

Benfica are hoping to test the resolve of the Belgian club and are said to have made an initial offer of €10M for Tolu's services, but Genk is said to be looking for close to double that amount if they are to move on from their current starting striker.

With the transfer window set to close for most leagues next week, look for Benfica to press forward for a striker if they are to lose Cabral.

 

Benfica hanging onto Playoff spot in Champions League

Benfica head into Turin to play their final league game of their Champions League campaign needing at minimum at least one point in their encounter with Juventus if they are to reach the knockout rounds of the competition.

Benfica are coming off a shocking defeat to city rivals Casa Pia in the Portuguese League over the weekend and the heat is on manager Bruno Lage to turn around the club's fortunes around and remain alive to play another day.

A Benfica win or draw will move them into the knockout round and if the club suffers a loss, it does not necessarily knock them out, but they will need to have other results go their way if they are to continue moving forward.

Benfica rivals Sporting are also just hanging on and will face Bologna at home needing a win or draw to remain in the competition. In a worse case scenario for Portugal, both clubs could be out of the competition once 10pm WEST comes around tomorrow night. Now that would be a disaster.

Benfica with eyes on yet another striker

Benfica are in the market for what looks like another striker that can actually score regularly and this time have their eyes set on 21 year old attacker Cristian Shpendi who currently applies his trait in Italy with second division club Cesena.

Benfica have spent an exuberant amount of funds on strikers since the departure of Goncalo Ramos to PSG in the summer of 2023 but have yet to find one that can provide goals on a regular basis from the number nine position.

Benfica will need to sell one of their current strikers if they are to make a move for the Italian-Albanian striker, with the departure of Arthur Cabral looking more and more likely during this transfer window as he has interest from Brazilian clubs, Botafogo and Palmeiras and Benfica seem ready to cut their losses.

Shpendi currently sits second in scoring in Serie B with ten goals over nineteen games and looks to fit what the club is looking for in an attacker (We would hope). Cesena is said to be open to moving on from Shpendi for €15M, which is the sum that Benfica is likely to obtain for the sale of Cabral.

Benfica are hoping that if this move does materialize, that it will not be another swing and miss.