Benfica working on bringing back Florentino

The times have changed at Benfica with the departure of Jorge Jesus, as the club under intern manager Nelson Verissimo seems ready to give more of their youth a chance to show what they can do as we have seen so far with Goncalo Ramos, Paulo Bernardo and Morato all getting more minutes under Verissimo. 

The next youngster that the club looks ready to give some playing time to is defensive midfielder Florentino Luis who is currently on loan with Spanish side Getafe until the end of the season. The club is in talks to end the loan spell early and have Florentino return to Lisbon. Florentino who is still only 22 years old was a key piece in Benfica's last league title who stepped in to fill an injury voud in the clubs final ten games of that season.

Five players could say good-bye to Benfica this month

Benfica are looking to slim down the squad as intern manager Nelson Verissimo looks to work with a smaller group of players as he finishes off the season on the clubs sideline. Reports from Portugal have named five current squad players as the more likely to depart before the winter transfer window closes on the 31st of this month.

The five players reported to be set to move on from the club is sparingly used loanee Nemanja Radonjic, youngsters Ferro and Gedson Fernandes who both look set to be loaned to other clubs for some playing time. The final two names are players Benfica hope to sell during the window with both Moroccan midfielder Taarabt and Swiss striker Haris Seferovic available, the latter should have been sold during the summer when his value was at an all time high after a good Euro 2020 performance.

Brazilian clubs circle Benfica's Everton

Benfica's Brazilian winger Everton is coveted by a trio of clubs from Brazil who are interested in landing the 25 year old's services at the conclusion of this season. Current league Champions Atletico Mineiro, Flamengo and Palmeiras are the clubs linked with Everton but Benfica have no interest in moving the player known as Cebolinha if their €20M price tag is not met which is the same sum the club paid Gremio to acquire the player in the summer of 2019.

Everton's time at Benfica has had moments of flash and skill but overall his time at the club has been on the more disappointing side as he has struggled to find his footing, amid rave reviews on his arrival to the Lisbon club. Everton has appeared in seventy-five games with Benfica across all competitions, scoring twelve goals while setting up sixteen. Benfica will owe Gremio 20% of any future sale of the player as was agreed when the two clubs came to the original agreement.