New name pops up on Benfica radar

A new name has popped up on the Benfica shopping list, this time the club is linked with a move for Levante's 22 year old midfielder Carlos Alvarez, with negotiations said to be heating up as the transfer window nears a close.

According to sources Abola and Marca, Benfica is keen to bolster its attack and Alvarez's name has emerged as a prime target. The transfer fee is said to be in the €15 million to €25 million range, though Benfica are looking to keep the fee on the lower end of the range.

Sevilla, Alvarez's former club would be entitled to 40% of any transfer deal between Benfica and Levante. Since joining Levante from Sevilla's youth system his performances with Levante helped the Spanish side climb back into La Liga, he scored seven goals and provided twelve assists in 43 contests last season.

Alvarez excels in chance creation, ranking highly for progressive passing and assists, with a flair for threading ambitious through balls. His dribbling ability allows him to take on defenders, though his shooting frequency and goal efficiency could improve.  

With a contract until 2027, Alvarez’s recent role as a substitute may facilitate the move. Benfica sees him as a creative spark to complement the club's strikers, offering pace, flair and goal-scoring potential. If finalized, this transfer could mark Alvarez as a key piece in Benfica’s ambitious campaign 

Benfica interested in Shakhtar Donetsk attacking midfielder

Benfica have reignited their interest in Shakhtar Donetsk’s attacking midfielder Georgiy Sudakov, a 22-year-old Ukrainian talent with a bright future. According to recent reports, the Lisbon giants are prepared to make a significant investment, with Shakhtar demanding upwards of €40 million for the dynamic playmaker.

Sudakov’s contract, which runs until 2028, and his €150 million release clause, suggest negotiations could be complex, but Shakhtar are not said to be willing to accept anything less than the reported €40 million for the Ukraine international.

Sudakov, a versatile No. 10, would be a perfect fit for Benfica’s attacking philosophy under Bruno Lage. His ability to score (15 goals last season) and create (6 assists) would add flair to Benfica’s midfield, complementing their high-pressing, possession-based style.

His compatriot, Anatoliy Trubin, already at Benfica, could ease his integration, fostering chemistry on and off the pitch. However, competition from Napoli, Juventus, and Premier League clubs like Arsenal and Liverpool could complicate matters for Benfica.

If Benfica secure Sudakov, he could replace Orkun Kokcu's creative spark from the middle of the field, becoming a long-term midfield cornerstone and elevating their European ambitions. 

Benfica change directions on player acquisition target

Benfica have decided against moving winger Kerem Akturkoglu back to his native home after Fenerbahce decided to pull their original €25M deal for the 26 year old Turkish international and replace it with an offer of just €15M, which ended all negotiations between the two clubs.

Benfica is said to have found Akturkoglu's replacement in Wolfsburg winger Mohamed Amoura and it was reported that the club and player had agreed to terms before the German side went wild with an asking price of between €35M-€40M, which Benfica balked at.

The club is now determined to look towards adding an attacking midfield piece before the transfer window closes who will be able to move the ball between the midfield and into the club's attack more smoothly. This tactical move shows the club's lack of confidence in their current option of players on the squad.

With an all important winner take all game coming up next week at the Luz against Fenerbache for a spot in this seasons lucrative Champions League phase, the club's direction could once again change if they were to miss out on advancing and drop down to the Europa League this season.

The club have been linked with players Thiago Almada and Giannis Konstantelias already this summer, who could fill this role but Almada joined Atletico Madrid instead and Giannis has been linked to a host of clubs across Europe but has yet to move from PAOK.

Look for Benfica to become more aggressive in the next 2 weeks as they look to bolster a position of weakness and build off of that this season.