Benfica have a situation at right back

Benfica temporary right back Tomas Araujo was substituted for the fifth game in a row on Friday as he battles muscle injuries and the club is left reeling as they lack an adequate replacement for injured starter Alexander Bah.

The only natural right back the club currently has is 19 year old Leandro Santos who has appeared in four games this season but manager Bruno Lage is reluctant to use the youngster in difficult encounters and has played Araujo, Samuel Dahl and Fredrik Aursnes out of position since Bah's injury.

Araujo is expected to miss the club's Week 27 encounter against Farense on Wednesday in hopes that he will be ready to compete in the upcoming Classico on the weekend when the club will take on FC Porto at the Dragao.

Benfica missed the opportunity to add a right back during the winter deadline and will now need to work to puzzle pieces into the position for the remainder of the season. How will this work out, we will find out over the next two months as the season winds down.

Benfica linked with move for Independiente midfielder

Benfica are being linked with summer move for Independiente midfielder Felipe Loyola according to reports from Argentina, as the club looks to bolster squad for the 2025-26 season.

The 24 year old Chilean international has only arrived in Argentina during this past summer but he has already caught the attention of some of Europe's bigger clubs, as the versatile player who can play both center and defensive midfield but also right back if required.

Loyola has appeared in 11 games so far this year with Independiente scoring one goal while providing two helpers and has appeared in 31 games across all competitions with the Argentinian side since arriving from Huachipato for €1.65M.

Benfica continue their South American search for players, as they have the past few seasons as the club looks for bargain prices to acquire some hidden gems that will help the club and then sell them for profit as they have with Enzo Fernandez and Marcos Leonardo that past few seasons.

Benfica interested in extending Otamendi and Di Maria

Reports are coming out of Portugal that Benfica are open to talking new contract's with upcoming free agents Angel di Maria and the teams captain Nico Otamendi but both players are not in a rush to sign any contract as they decide what they want to do next season.

The Argentinian internationals are both getting up their in age as they are both 37 years old but Benfica are ready to offer both players one year contracts to keep them with the club for another season and have them be part of the club as they compete in the Club World Cup this summer.

Angel di Maria rejoined the club in the summer of 2023 after thirteen years away from first joining in the summer of 2007. While Otamendi arrived in the summer of 2020, after spending time in Portugal previously with rivals FC Porto from the summer of 2010 to 2014.

Both players have appeared in a combined 422 games for the club across all competitions, Otamendi (218), Angel di Maria (204). With Otamendi scoring eleven goals in his time at the club while Di Maria has contributed forty-six. They have combined to win eight cups in that time with Di Maria capturing 5 trophies and Otamendi 3 trophies.