Roma defender Federico Fazio is the latest name linked with a move to Benfica as the club continues to look to add another veteran presence to its back line. The 33 year old central defender has fallen down the pecking order at Roma and has one year remaining on his current contract. Benfica who recently signed former Tottenham centerback Jan Veronghen to play along side Ruben Dias is looking to add insurance to its back line and a player that can get into the lineup when one of the starters needs a day off. Fazio joined Roma in the summer of 2016 on loan from Tottenham before making the move permanent a year later and has appeared in 158 games across all competitions for the Italian side. The addition of Fazio could see one of Jardel or Ferro depart the club before the start of the coming season.
Jorge Jesus has halted the loan move that was set to happen for Mile Svilar after Benfica had agreed to terms with Belgian side Heerenveen but the new Benfica manager has decided that he wants the 20 year old keeper to remain a bit longer with the club training at Seixal. Svilar was acquired by Benfica in the summer of 2017 for €2.5M from Anderlecht and has appeared 21 times for Benfica across all competitions since then. Svilar's only appearance for Benfica's main squad during this past season was a 4-0 win over Aves in Week 33 but he did appear in 20 games for Benfica's B squad were he had six clean sheets. Svilar may still depart the club on loan before the start of the season but Jesus wants to see what he has in the keeper before any decision is made on his future.
Benfica are showing no signs off slowing down in the transfer market and according to Italian site GianLuca Dimarizio the Eagles have started talks with Inter Milan for the services of former Jorge Jesus midfielder Joao Mario. Jesus managed the 27 year old in 2015 and 2016 when he was at the helm of Sporting and has asked his current club to look into what it would take for the Portuguese International to join his Benfica side this season. Joao Mario spent the 2019-20 season on loan with Russian club Lokomotiv Moscow where he appeared in 22 games across all competitions, scoring once while setting up six goals. Joao Mario joined Inter Milan in the summer of 2016 but has spent the past two and half years away from the club on loans and a return to Portugal could be in the cards if both clubs can come to an agreement. Joao Mario has been capped by Portugal 46 times and was a member of Portugal's winning Euro 2016 squad.
