22 June 2007, by Tom Kundert

Sporting spring a surprise by confirming Derlei signing

Lions also lodge a bid for Montenegrin midfielder Vukcevic

Former Porto and Benfica forward Derlei signed a contract for one season with Sporting this Friday.

News first broke of the move earlier this week and the transfer has taken many Portuguese football pundits by surprise after the Brazilian’s less than impressive spell at Benfica in the second half of last season.

Derlei thus becomes only the seventh ever player to represent all three of Portugal’s major clubs.

The 31-year-old first played in Portugal for Uniao de Leiria, but reached his peak in Jose Mourinho’s all-conquering FC Porto team where he played a major role in helping the Dragons to UEFA Cup and Champions League glory.

He then moved to Russia where he played for Dynamo Moscow, but returned to Portugal earlier this year to play for Benfica. However, Derlei was unable to reproduce his best form, scoring just one goal in 12 matches during a torrid three-month stay at the Estadio da Luz.

Vukcevic bid

Sporting are also reportedly trying to sign highly-rated Montenegrin midfielder Vukcevic. The 21-year-old currently plays for Russian club Saturn, and the Lions have offered two million euros to bring him to Alvalade.

However, a spokesman for the Russian club, Mikhail Pukchanski, says that they will not accept less than four million euros for the player and also added that FC Porto are interested in contracting Vukcevic.