It’s pretty hard to pick a time of the year when Manchester United are not being linked to some Benfica player. It’s also very difficult to guess a season when Benfica don’t have a homegrown starlet who’s worth many millions.
On Tuesday, Portuguese newspaper Record brings a story saying the Eagles could make some decent money during the January window. The figures, of course, are based on player release clauses: €80m for Nelson Semedo and €60m for Gonçalo Guedes.
The competition for the right-back is said to be bigger, as Semedo has been watched by Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.
The Red Devils would also have good references on Guedes, as their scouting department, leaded by Marcel Bout, are frequently keeping an eye on him. Paris Saint Germain are the other potential destination.
Benfica president Luis Filipe Vieira is back from China after spending a few days in the country negotiating the sale of Raul Jimenez. But the player didn’t accept to make the move, so the club now want to make that money with other transfers. He was supposed to be sold for €50m.
It’s a nice story and all that, but Benfica keep wanting to sell players before clubs make their moves to buy. No contacts or bids are mentioned in the article.
Manchester United may be watching, but it doesn’t mean they’ll be spending all that money in a winter window. Maybe if Benfica tell them their plans, they could be convinced. At least that would happen in Record’s wonderland.
