Roger Schmidt has high praise for Enzo

Benfica manager Roger Schmidt had high praise for recently acquired midfielder Enzo Fernandez after last nights league opening win, he admits to be pleasantly surprised with Enzo during the preseason and in the clubs first two competitive games as the 21 year old is already stepping up and providing the production from the midfield position which was lacking throughout most of last season.

Fernandez has scored in back to back games and is already taking a big step forward in his first trip across the pond and into European football. Schmidt also added that he has been impressed with Enzo's willingness to ask for the ball in risky situations and feels that he is in the right place to see his game grow.

Benfica make official bid for Aursnes

Benfica have made their first official bid for Feyenoord defensive midfielder Fredrik Aursnes according to reports from Portugal as the Lisbon club looks to add more reinforcements before the end of the transfer window. Benfica has been linked with Aursnes for weeks now but have only now offered Feyenoord €10M for the players services and talks are said to be going well.

Benfica kick off the league season tomorrow against Arouca at the Estadio da Luz and will go into the game looking to keep up their fine form under new manager Roger Schmidt which included a weekday win over Midtjylland in the first leg of a Champions League qualifier. this week. Benfica are also said to be progressing in talks with Braga for winger Ricardo Horta and have increased their offer to €15M plus a player.

Benfica need options in the midfield

Benfica are poised to move out more players before the transfer window closes in the next few weeks with the likely departure of midfielder Julian Weigl next on the list, followed by another midfielder in Soualiho Meite. This would leave Benfica rather thin in the midfield position with only newly acquired Enzo Fernandez joined by Joao Mario and Florentino as players that manager Roger Schmidt would be open to using regularly aside from a bunch of unproven academy players, which are headlined by Paulo Bernardo.

Benfica have already moved on from Pizzi this summer and have banished Adel Taarabt and Gabriel to practice with the clubs B squad so reinforcements are needed sooner rather then later as the club goes through the qualifying round phase of the Champions League commencing this week. Benfica have been linked to Feyenoord midfielder Fredrick Aursnes along with Shakhtar Donetsk's Maycon over the past few weeks but nothing has moved forward on those fronts.

 

Benfica could also look within their league for players that can fill the roles required while saving funds on the cost to acquire them. Famalicao's Gustavio Assuncao is a hidden gem that would be a more then an adequate replacement for Weigl in the clubs starting XI. Estoril's Andre Franco and Guimaraes' Andre Almeida are two other names that can shore up the clubs depth in the midfield, combined these three players have appeared in 171 league games so experience is not lacking.