Benfica continue links with Eredivisie players

Benfica continue to be linked to players currently applying their trade in the Eredivisie which is the current league of incoming manager Roger Schmidt. The latest players linked to Benfica are two of Schmidt's own PSV players, Mario Gotze and Ibrahim Sangare who have patrolled the midfield for the Dutch side for the past two seasons.

The 29 year old Gotze is a former World Cup champion with Germany and has an affordable buyout clause reported at €4M. Gotze has appeared in 74 games for PSV across all competitions, scoring 18 goals while setting up the same amount. Gotze had spent all of his playing career in Germany between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund before joining PSV on a free transfer in the summer of 2020 and has spent the majority of his career playing in an attacking midfield role.

Sangare who is 24 years old also joined PSV in the summer of 2020 from French club Toulouse for €7M and would be a more costly acquisition for Benfica, some saying in the €20M-€25M range. Sangare who plays in the defensive midfield role, has appeared in 85 games for PSV across all competitions, scoring five goals while also setting up five. Sangare has also been linked with richer sides Arsenal, Tottenham and Leicester City.

The continued links that Benfica have with various players no matter who they end up actually obtaining, does mean one thing, expect big changes at the club for next season.

 

Benfica linked to Waalwijk defender Touba

Benfica have added RKC Waalwijk defender Ahmed Touba to their summer transfer wish list according to reports from French publication Foot Mercato. Incoming new manager Roger Schmidt is famaliar with the 24 year old center back from their encounters in the Dutch Eredivisie over the past two seasons. Schmidt has a plan for Benfica and is looking to add the right players to his incoming system for next season.

Touba who plays internationally for Algeria was born in France and spent his youth in the Belgian football system, spending time at Club Brugge, OH Leuven and FC Brugge before moving to Dutch side Waalwijk in the summer of 2020. Touba has appeared in 60 games across all competitions for Waalwijk, scoring three goals while setting up an additional two. Touba's addition would more then likely mean the departure of one of the clubs senior center backs in Jan Vertonghen or Nicolas Otamendi.

Benfica President Rui Costa wants Horta at club

Benfica President Rui Costa is said to want Braga winger Ricardo Horta as a reinforcement for next season at the club according to reports from Portugal. Benfica's interest in Horta is not new but with the club set for a major overhaul of players this summer, he is a player currently on the clubs radar. 

Horta who is 27 years old came up through Benfica's youth system along with brother Andre Horta but did not make any appearances for the main squad before departing to Setubal in the summer of 2013. Horta then made a move to Spanish side Malaga in 2014 before a season long loan sent him to Braga in 2016 a move that became permanent in the summer of 2017.

Horta has had a sensation 2021/22 campaign in which he has scored 21 goals across all competitions including 17 in league play while providing 10 assists. Horta has appeared in 277 games since joining Braga across all competitions, scoring 91 goals which is the clubs all time high while adding 48 assists. Braga President Antoine Salvador is said to want €20M to move Horta but Benfica will work to lower that price tag by adding some of the clubs youngsters to any future deal.