Transfer window latest

Tiago Gomes switches to Spain

Estrela da Amadora are set to lose the services of midfielder Tiago Gomes to Spanish second division side Malaga. The Portuguese U21 international is close to sealing a move with only the medical left to perform before finalising the deal.

The transfer will aid the struggling club’s delicate financial situation with a fee of around 600,000 euros being proposed to release the player.

“It’s logical to be excited about playing in Spain, even if it is in the second division,” said Gomes. “And the possibility of playing in the first division makes it even more enticing.”

In other team news, Estrela are expected to land the services of two strikers as the club look to fight off relegation. No names have been mentioned as possible targets, but the Lisbon suburb side are know to be seeking players that are deemed excess to requirements from the bigger clubs in Portugal.

Targino off to Turkey

One of Portugal’s brightest prospects, Targino, is set to pack his bags for a loan spell in Turkey.

The deal is close to being wrapped up for the Vitoria Guimaraes forward who will spend the rest of the season with Vestel Manisaspor. The Turkish outfit will also have an option to make the deal permanent should the Portuguese U21 international impress.

The move comes as a bit of a shock, but space was limited on the Guimaraes roster with the club opting to make room for recent acquisitions Marquinhos and Paulo Henriques. Targino made only 10 appearances for the club this season, all coming off the bench, and scored two goals.

Wolfsburg step in for Alvim

Belenenses look set to lose left-back, Rodrigo Alvim. The Brazilian player is attracting a lot of interest from Germany with Wolfsburg at the centre of all the attention.

The Bundesliga side are reported to have made a bid of around a million euros for the full-back’s services, although the Blues are reluctant to sell. But Alvim, who is out of contract at the end of the season, is excited at the prospect of playing football in Germany and is willing to jump at the chance.

Seeing as there are only two days left in the transfer window and the fact that the player will be able to leave at season end for free, Belenenses may be forced to thrash out a deal instead of running the risk of losing the player in the summer and coming away empty-handed.

In other team news, French club Lille have tabled a bid for the offensive midfielder Silas. As with his team-mate Alvim, it is a race against the clock to see whether the former Wolverhampton player remains in Portugal or not.

Avalos follows Benaglio to Duisburg

Nacional have shipped out another player to German club Duisburg after striking a deal to send defender Avalos to the Rhineland. Having already sold Swiss goalkeeper Diego Benaglio to the same club, the rugged defender will now meet up with his former team-mate.

The Argentine will undergo a routine medical and is expected to sign today. Nacional are not going away penniless as the club is set to receive 200,000 euros in the deal.

Nacional have also loaned out striker Chilikov to Chinese club Dalian Shide. The Bulgarian had returned back to his homeland where he was playing with CSKA Sofia since the beginning of this season, but now heads to pastures new in the Far East.