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Benfica seem to be ‘at it’ again, and by ‘at it’ we mean trying to offload players. Several reports in the Portuguese press over the past week have claimed Benfica are once again looking at January sales, even though transfers over the past couple of windows have really hurt the squad.

The Lisbon club’s president Luís Filipe Vieira may well deny the situation but, as often seems the case, Benfica appear to be considering outgoings.

Record comes with another on Saturday, and Wolves are brought into the situation. Rafa Silva isn’t at the level Benfica hoped he would be by age 24, and isn’t yet looking like he’ll turn a good profit on the €16m paid to SC Braga in 2016.

Rafa is Benfica’s second most expensive player ever, and is ‘devaluing’, so ‘a loan in January may be positive for all parties’. The 18th most used player in Benfica’s squad, it’s pointed out Rafa isn’t imposing himself enough.

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Wolves are the only club mentioned. Record say, according to their own information, England is a possibility, and Wolves will be on the table an option. An exit isn’t nailed on, but Rafa is being lined up for one, like several Benfica players.

The left-footed attacker, who is primarily a left winger, isn’t represented by Gestifute, so would be more complicated than a Mendes signing for Wolves, but Record say the ‘good connections’ between Wolves and Benfica should help.

Rafa has 10 caps for Portugal and whilst he hasn’t played for the country this year, Record believe he still has hopes of making the country’s World Cup squad.

In May 2016, when the then Braga footballer was linked with a move to England, his agent Antônio Araújo told Sport Witness: “Our client, Rafa Silva, sees with very good eyes the possibility. We are working towards achieving this objective.”

Is this another sign of Luís Filipe Vieira taking his products to market ahead of the window, or simply the Portuguese press looking for stories? Probably a bit of both.

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