Benfica ready to send Gabriel to Brazil

Benfica midfielder Gabriel has found out that he is not in the plans this season of incoming manager Roger Schmidt and Benfica are once again looking for options to send Gabriel who has a contract with the Lisbon side until the summer of 2024. Gabriel spent last season on loan with Qatar club Al-Gharafa were he appeared in 30 games across all competitions, scoring 7 goals while providing 8 helpers as his club finished the season in fifth spot.

Brazilian clubs Flamengo and Botafogo are both said to be interested in the services of the 28 year old who last played in Brazil back in 2011 for Resende-RJ before joining Juventus under 19 side in Italy. Benfica are open to selling Gabriel if their price point is met but are also open to another loan for the midfielder. Gabriel last appeared in a game with Benfica in May of 2021 were he picked up an assist in a victory over Guimaraes in league play.

Benfica hope to take Joao Victor away from Porto

Benfica are hoping to swoop in a take away Corinthians center back Joao Victor away from league rivals FC Porto as the two clubs battle for the 23 year olds signature. Benfica director Rui Braz has travelled to Brazil ready to submit a €12M offer to Corinthians to pry Victor away from FC Porto who are said to have offered the Brazilian club €10M for his services.

Benfica who have a bundle of cash from their €75M sale of striker Darwin Nunez last month, are looking to add a player that has appeared in 74 games across all competitions for Corinthians, having yet to score a goal and setting up one in his time with the club. Victor is currently under the orders of Portuguese manager Vitor Pereira has been with Corinthians since the winter of 2017.

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.