Benfica needs to hang onto Goncalo Ramos

With the summer transfer window getting set to get into full gear, rumours continue to swirl that Benfica are listening to offers for their made in Seixal talent Goncalo Ramos. The 21 year old who seems to score whenever given a proper chance is currently linked to Jose Mourinho's Roma and Premiership side Newcastle with Benfica said to be looking in the €30M to €40M range to move on from the youngster.

Ramos came up through the Benfica system joining the Eagles academy during the summer of 2013 at the tender age of 12. The 21 year old was not given a real look with the main squad under the reign of Jorge Jesus who preferred to lean to veterans over molding younger players. The departure of Jesus at the end of 2021, finally gave Ramos the opportunity to show his talent with the main squad under the guidance of his B club manager Nelson Verissimo. 

Ramos went from regularly not being included in starting XI to an almost guaranteed option under Verissimo. The youngster ended up appearing in 47 games across all competitions in 2021/22, playing 2,447 minutes while scoring eight goals and setting up another four. Ramos thrives in the secondary striker role but could be used by new manager Schmidt in an attacking role from the midfield or as a first substitute from the bench when the club requires a goal and as a fresh pair of legs up front.

Benfica would be wise to learn from their previous mistakes in letting players go a tad too soon with the names of Bernardo Silva, Joao Cancelo and Renato Sanches coming to mind unless they were to receive a Joao Felix type of offer. With manager Schmidt preferring a 4-3-3 formation, the likely hood of the club moving on from Ramos is high but lets hope that Benfica go with a loan out of Ramos with no buy option as opposed to a sale and miss out on another big pay day from a star in the making.

Benfica working on deal with Besiktas for Seferovic

Benfica striker Haris Seferovic is on his last legs at the club as the Lisbon squad continue their talks with Turkish side Besiktas on a permanent move for the Swiss international this summer. Benfica are said to be looking for €8M to move on from the 30 year old who has been a member of the club since coming over on a free transfer from Eintracht Frankfurt in the summer of 2017.

Seferovic and Besiktas have come to an agreement on personal terms but the two clubs have yet to finalize the deal between themselves. Seferovic has appeared in 188 across all competitions for Benfica, scoring 74 goals while setting up an additional 24. Seferovic won the league's golden boot during the 2018/19 season when he scored 23 goals while partnering up alongside the clubs former attacker Joao Felix.

Pizzi return to Benfica to be short lived

Long time Benfica midfielder Pizzi is set to open training with Benfica in Seixal as players begin to arrive at camp for medicals this weekend but his stay at the club looks to be short lived as the veteran 32 year old is not in the plans of incoming manager Roger Schmidt and is already being linked with a move to Greek champions Olympiacos this season.

Pizzi spent the second half of last season in Turkey with Basaksehir after falling out of favour at the club but he has appeared in 327 games for the Lisbon side across all competitions, scoring 94 goals while setting up an additional 95. Pizzi remains under contract with Benfica until the summer of 2023 were his remarkable career at the club will come to an end.