Benfica keeper wanted by Borussia Dortmund

Benfica keeper Odysseas Vlachodimos is on German club Borussia Dortmund's radar according to reports coming from the publication BILD. Dortmund's management team are said to be looking for a new number one keeper next season, as they have grown tired of current starter Roman Burki's inconsistency. Dortmund have been informed that Benfica's current keeper would not come cheap as he has a contract with the Lisbon side until the summer of 2024. Vlachodimos is famaliar with the Bundesliga having gone through Stuttgart's youth system and arrived at Benfica in the summer of 2018 from Greek club Panathinaikos for €2.4M. The 26 year old German born keeper who chose to play football for Greece internationally due to his family lineage has appeared in 116 games across all competitions for Benfica since joining the club with 44 clean sheets to his name.

Benfica advance to Taca de Portugal semis

Benfica advanced to the Taca de Portugal semi-final after a convincing 3-0 win over Belenenses SAD and will now take on surprising semi-finalist and second division side Estoril in a two leg encounter. Benfica got first half goals from Darwin Nunez and Rafa Silva, while Franco Cervi chipped in a second half goal to finish the scoring for the hosts. Benfica will play the first leg at Estoril between February 9-11 while hosting the second leg between March 2-4. The victory was much needed for the Lisbon side who have been dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak within its squad and staff over the past few weeks, with manager Jorge Jesus being the latest to test positive for the virus. The winner of the Benfica/Estoril encounter will take on the winner of FC Porto/Braga in the Finals scheduled to take place on May 23rd at Jamor.

Jorge Jesus will not be on the bench for Taca game

Jorge Jesus will miss today's Taca de Portugal quarter-final encounter against Belenenses SAD due to a severe respiratory infection that the Portuguese manager is currently battling. Jesus spent the day yesterday in Lisbon hospital running tests as his condition which includes coughing, fever and associated chills worsened but he did test negative for COVID-19. Assistant Manager Joao de Deus will take over the managerial duties for today's game and could also do the same when the club takes on Sporting on Monday in the Lisbon Derby as it is unknown how long the 66 year old manager will be out as the club looks to keep him away from his duties with the on going pandemic. Benfica did receive some good news with the return of striker Waldschmidt from his COVID-19 isolation and will also have the services of Alex Grimaldo, Gilberto, Diogo Goncalves and Vertonghen as their time in isolation due to COVID-19 is over.

Update: It has been announced that Jorge Jesus has tested positive for COVID-19, the club states that he had 7 negative tests prior to testing positive.