Benfica should take a chance on Estoril attacking midfielder

As Benfica look to make over the club this summer for new incoming manager Roger Schmidt, the club will see an exodus of players from last seasons roster, but what the club needs to look a bit more into is what hidden gems they may be able to find within the Portuguese League itself and one of those players plays just 30 km away at Estoril in attacking midfielder Andre Franco.

The 24 year old is available for a mere €5M and had a great season at Estoril scoring eleven goals while setting up four across thirty seven games of action and was named the man of the match on four occasions. Franco came up through the Sporting youth system and spent a season at Belenenses before arriving at Estoril in the summer of 2018. Franco has been linked with Jorge Jesus at Fenerbahce but Benfica would be wise to give the player a try for the price that Estoril is looking for.

One of Benfica's big projects this summer is rebuilding the midfield which disappointed last season in more games then not and Franco would add an element to the attack that the club lacked last season. You have to like a player of Franco's caliber who spent a season away from the professional game and almost called it quits on his career but his determination has got him to this point in his career and what is wrong with adding some heart to the club, something sorely lacking.

Benfica look to bring old face home

Benfica continue to look around the globe to strengthen their squad for the upcoming season after consecutive third place finishes in Portugal and the latest name linked to the club is former Seixal academy player Andre Gomes who is currently at Everton. The 28 year old last wore Benfica colours during the  2013/2014 season and has spent time at both Valencia and Barcelona before arriving in England with Everton.

Everton are ready to move on from Gomes as they look to raise funds for moves this summer and his return to Benfica will depend on the amount that Everton are looking to receive for the player. Benfica are not alone in their interest for Gomes as Portuguese rivals FC Porto are also said to be monitoring the situation closely. Gomes appeared in forty-one games with Benfica across all competitions, scoring four goals in that span.

Benfica path to Champions League group revealed

Benfica have learned their path to the group stage of the Champions League as the club looks to add millions to it's coffers for the 2022-23 season. Benfica will once again go through the league path after finishing third in the Portuguese League for the second season in a row as they bid to be one of two clubs to earn a place in the lucrative group stage.

Benfica will be placed in the seeded pot and will need to win their 3rd qualifying round and then a playoff round to clinch their group stage place. Their potential opponents in the 3rd round qualifying round could come from any of Monaco, Sturm Graz, Fenerbahce, AEK Larnaca, Midtylland and Union Saint-Gilloise. PSV could once again be a potential opponent in the playoff round but the Lisbon side would avoid the Dutch club in the first round of games.