Benfica eye Estoril winger Rafik Guitane

Benfica have turned their attention to Estoril winger Rafik Guitane and have opened talks with Estoril about the player according to reports coming from Portugal's Maisfutebol. Benfica are hoping to make a move for Guitane in January when the winter transfer window opens as they look to add depth to their squad.

Estoril value the 24 year old at €4M to €5M and hold 70% of the players rights with French club Stade Reims having the remaining 30%. Guitane spent part of last season on loan at Estoril and the prior two seasons with Maritimo.

Guitane has appeared in 18 games across all competitions this season, scoring four goals while providing two helpers.

Benfica need to let Di Maria walk in the summer

Angel di Maria got a hero's welcome as you would expect for the 35 year old when it was announced that he was returning to Benfica after departing the club thirteen years earlier. 

Di Maria signed a contract for one season with a salary in excess of €9M and it got off how you hoped as Di Maria netted the eventually game winner in Benfica's Super Cup triumph over bitter rivals FC Porto back in August.

Di Maria then started the league season on fire, potting five goals while providing two helpers in the club's first seven games of the season. Then the injury bug hit in early October, and Di Maria has since been a shell of the player who looked poised to carry this club on another spectacular run.

Di Maria has now gone pointless in his past five league games and past two Champions League games with his lone marker being a free kick in a League Cup game. Those are not the totals you want to see from a player over the past two months who makes double what any other player makes in the Portuguese League.

Some may say that Benfica's finishing has been less then clinical; I agree but when a 19 year old tends to be the club's best performer game in and game out over the past few months with the talent that this club should have, it speaks volumes about what Di Maria has failed to bring over that same span.

Argentinian side Rosario Central is hoping to bring Di Maria back home for his final season or two. I say, let him go and book the private jet to Buenos Aires and get this thing moving along; the sooner the better.

It is normal for players to go cold, but when they do, they need to bring other aspects of their games up while they try to get out of the funk. But when a player is cold and becoming a liability defensively for the squad, then it is time to sit his butt on the bench. Are you listening Roger Schmidt or Rui Costa?

Joao Victor could be on way out of Benfica

Joao Victor could be on his way out of Benfica when the winter transfer window opens over the next few weeks, with the potential destination being Turkish club Besiktas, according to reports from Aksam Spor. The 25 year old was suggested to Besiktas, and the Istanbul club is currently studying the possibility of a move to add reinforcements to the back line.

Victor joined Benfica in the summer of 2022 from Corinthians for €9.5M but has not been able to earn regular playing time at Benfica. He has made just two appearances for Benfica this season, appearing in a mere twenty-seven minutes. While last season, after joining the club, he appeared in just three games before joining Nantes on loan for half the season.

Victor has a contract with Benfica until the summer of 2027 with a €100M buyout clause. but look for any move to Besiktas to be a loan move with an option to buy at the conclusion of the season.