Benfica need to give Cabral more time to adapt to club

Benfica made a significant signing this summer when they acquired striker Arthur Cabral from Fiorentina for €20M to replace departing striker Goncalo Ramos who moved on to join PSG. 

However since his arrival Cabral has struggled to find his footing and has yet to score or provide a helper in the limited time that he has appeared in games.

Benfica manager Roger Schmidt has continued to shuffle between Cabral, Petar Musa and Casper Tengstedt as he looks to find the piece that can replace what the club lost with departure of Ramos. 

Cabral has appeared in 230 minutes of the 900 minutes that the club has played this season, which does not bode well for the striker as he looks to adapt to his new club and teammates.

Benfica need to give their summer acquisition regular playing minutes if we are to see what he can bring to the club as if Cabral is to build chemistry with his new teammates he will actually need to be on the pitch with them.

Benfica should look to include Cabral against the leagues minnows more regularly in the hopes that he can provide the club with what they first saw when acquiring the 25 year old this past summer.

Benfica injuries starting to mount

Benfica are under an injury alert stage of the season as three regular starters hit the infirmary within a few days during this past week. Benfica have lost right back Alexander Bah, midfielder Orkun Kokcu and winger Angel di Maria to injury.

All three players injuries are not deemed to be serious and the trio should not miss extended periods of time but the injuries are serious enough that both Bah and Di Maria will not report for international duty while Kokcu looks to be following suit.

Benfica looking at Boavista right back

Benfica are currently looking to make a move for a right back when the winter transfer window opens up in January as the club currently lacks anyone to back up current starter Alexander Bah who has struggled to stay healthy in the first few months of the season.

Reports from Portugal have Benfica linked with a move to acquire U21 International Pedro Malheiro from Boavista. The 22 year old has been Boavista's regular starter at right back since half way through last season and has appeared in 60 games across all competitions for the northern Portugal club, scoring twice while providing seven helpers.

This move for Malheiro should be cost efficient and give the club the coverage that they are currently lacking since the departure of Gilberto in the summer to Brazil.