On Tuesday, the Daily Mail reported that Benfica and Lazio had made an approach for Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Nabil Bentaleb. The 21 year old Algerian international has been repeatedly linked with a move in recent months, without anything too concrete.
Tottenham’s response to the clubs mentioned above was apparently that the player is not leaving on loan, as requested by both clubs, and he would only be available for a permanent transfer of £12m.
These reports are usually a big hit in the Portuguese press, but that’s what not the case today. Only A Bola have commented it, in their Wednesday Benfica section, and it’s a very short and to the point reaction.
A Bentaleb deal at that price just isn’t affordable for Benfica, say A Bola, especially given the player’s wages. There’s no chance it could happen, and so that’s that.
This is not the first time Bentaleb is linked to Benfica. Last month, his agent was contacted by A Bola and stated that the midfielder’s wish was to stay in England.
