Benfica ready to go after Santa Clara forward

The season is not even three days done and rumours coming out of Portugal seem to be every hour on the hour, the latest linking Benfica with Santa Clara winger Carlos Junior. Benfica seem keen to shore up their club this off season within the league after spending a record last season abroad on acquisitions with little to show for it. Carlos Junior has had a fantastic season with the Azorian club, helping them secure a place in the newly created UEFA Europa Conference League after finishing sixth in Portugal. The 25 year old winger scored 16 goals across all competitions while setting up an additional four goals in 36 appearances.

Carlos joined Santa Clara during the 2019/20 season from Portuguese side Louletano on loan before a permanent move was arranged this past summer between the clubs. Carlos arrived in Portugal in the winter of 2019 at Rio Ave but was let go just six months later, a move the Vila da Conde club is surely regrets. Benfica have also been linked in recent weeks up front with Portimonense striker Beto and have already acquired Maritimo striker Rodrigo Pinho on a free transfer. No details of what it would cost Benfica to acquire the 25 year old but it could be in the €5M to €7.5M range if no players move the other way from Benfica to Santa Clara permanently or on a loan spell.

Benfica ready for Taca de Portugal Final

Benfica go into Sunday's season ending game against Braga looking to hoist their 30th Taca de Portugal title and first trophy win since the 2019 Super Cup as they look to salvage something in what amounted to a disappointing season for the Lisbon giants.

Benfica and Braga will meet for the first time ever in a Taca de Portugal final and go into the game on different runs. Benfica finished the season unbeaten in seven games and have suffered just one defeat in their last fifteen. While Braga have won only three of their last ten games.

Benfica will be without central defender Verissimo who suffered an injury in the final season game but are otherwise relatively healthy going into the game. Benfica defeated Paredes, Vilafranquense, Amadora, Belenenses and Estoril in their run to the final Sunday.

Benfica's Seferovic just misses winning golden boot again

Benfica's Seferovic did all he could to try and capture his second golden boot in league play in an exciting final day of football in Portugal. Seferovic entered the final game of the season tied with Sporting's Pote at 20 goals a piece when they day commenced. Benfica would play before Sporting and defeated Guimaraes 3-1, a game in which Seferovic scored a brace to take over the lead in the golden boot race and finish with 22 goals.

Sporting would then play in the final game of the season against Maritimo, a game they handily won 5-1 but unfortunately for Seferovic, Sporting midfielder Pote would score a hat trick in this game and surpass Seferovic by one goal capturing the golden boot. The Swiss International had a terrific second half of the season scoring 16 of his 22 goals after the midway point as he earned regular playing minutes.

The 29 year old appeared in 31 league games and played a total of 2,265 minutes, he also chipped in seven assists to go along with his 22 goals. Sporting's Pote also appeared in 31 games but played 2,645 minutes which is a full four games more then Seferovic. Pote chipped in four assists to go with his league leading 23 goals. Seferovic won the golden boot during the 2018/19 season when he scored 23 goals playing along side Joao Felix before his move to Atletico Madrid in the summer.

Benfica would be wise to cash in on Seferovic during the summer transfer window as his value has never been higher. The club already has Darwin Nunez, Luca Waldschmidt, the possible return of 2019/20 golden boot winner Carlos Vinicius and recent signing Rodrigo Pinho in a crowded striker position. This group may also include youngster Goncalo Ramos especially if Jorge Jesus is sent packing during the summer months.