Latest from Portuguese transfer rumour mill
The transfer window has been for open a month, and there have been some incredible moves in the Portuguese league, with Porto signing notable players like Iker Casillas and Maxi Pereira and Sporting hiring Jorge Jesus, Bryan Ruiz and Teo Gutiérrez.
Things have calmed down a little lately, but the press remain busy incessantly trying to second-guess the intentions of the Primeria Liga clubs as they build their squads ahead of the new season.
Porto try to secure Sandro
To start it off, we’ve got the latest on Alex Sandro. The highly coveted Porto fullback has been heavily linked with a move to Juventus and Manchester City this summer and Porto have, according to the rumours, already rejected big money bids for the Brazilian. Alex Sandro’s contract ends next summer and O Jogo believe that in order to convince him to sign a new deal, Porto have made him one of the captains, alongside Maicon, for the upcoming season. This will be Sandro’s 5th season at Porto, which makes him one of the longest-serving players in today’s squad, so it’s no surprise that the hard-working 24-year-old is lined up as a potential captain for the next season.
Dyverson wants out
Let’s continue with the longest on-going transfer saga in Portuguese football. After a brilliant first part of last season at Belenenses, scoring 9 goals in 25 games, former Benfica striker Deyverson was loaned out to German side FC Köln. It didn’t go to plan, as the Brazilian striker was used only in 9 games, scoring twice.
Deyverson clearly liked the sweet life abroad, as he doesn’t plan on playing for Belenenses this season. Against Nacional in a friendly last week the 24-year-old faked an injury in order not to play, and the last few days he has not showed up for training. He has also written what amounts to a goodbye message on his Facebook profile. But Belenenses want to keep Deyverson because he is seen as a crucial part of manager Sá Pinto’s team for the upcoming Europa League qualifiers and season, and he was registered in Belenenses’ Europa League squad, which will take on IFK Göteborg on Friday at The Restelo.
Nevertheless, these player versus club tug-of-wars are usually won by the former and it now seems Deyverson has managed to convince Belenenses to let him go as Record report today that he’s in Valencia to complete his medical and sign a deal with the Spanish side Levante.
Diego Rubio to be loaned out
If Deyverson was to leave, Sporting may sit on a handy replacement. Diego Rubio, who was loaned out to Sandes Ulf for the first part of last season, returned with a bang this winter. The Chilean scored an impressive 14 goals in 21 games for Sporting B and now Sporting want to give him bigger challenges, with a loan to a Primeira Liga team mooted. Belenenses, Vitória Guimarães and Braga are potential destinations for Rubio, according to Record.
There’s no secret that Braga are looking for strikers, after selling both Zé Luís and Éderzito. They’ve already signed Rodrigo Pinho, but they need at least one or two strikers more if they want to keep hold of their 4th place. Including Rubio, Os Arsenalistas have also been linked with Benfica’s Rui Fonte, who spent second half of last season at Belenenses without impressing much.
Braga have lost other key players, albeit only on loan, as Felipe Pardo has joined Marco Silva’s new team Olympiacos and highly-talented 19-year-old defensive midfielder Danilo has joined Valencia. To replace them the Portuguese press believe Sporting’s Wilson Eduardo will fill the vacant spot on the right wing, while Benfica’s Pelé will take Danilo’s place in midfield, on loan.
Speaking of Olympiacos, Marco Silva wants to take Porto winger Hernâni to Greece. The former Guimarães winger hasn’t played much after arriving in January and judging by minutes played so far in the pre-season he remains behind Silvestre Varela, who has returned from his loan spells in England and Italy last season, in the pecking order. Despite the sale of Ricardo Quaresma to Besiktas, Record write that Hernâni could make the move east, either on loan or permanently, to join the Greek powerhouse.
Raul Jiménez on Benfica’s radar
Back in Lisbon, Benfica are looking for a replacement for Lima, who joined Al Alhi earlier this week for, a reported, €7m fee. It won’t be easy replacing a great servant for Benfica and a consistent performer in the Portuguese league, and to do so Benfica are looking at Altético Madrid’s Mexican striker Raúl Jiménez, who has been linked with a move to Benfica and Porto all summer. The Mexican has already told the press that he has offers from England, Spain and Portugal but A Bola claim that negotiations between Altético and Benfica are well underway.
Another striker that’s on Benfica’s list is Hull City’s Abel Hernández, who was close to joining The Eagles last summer. Record think a loan is most likely at the moment. A Bola also mentions former Roma striker Pablo Osvaldo, who could be signed on a free transfer.
Sporting look to bolster midfield
Lisbon neighbours Sporting are looking to strengthen their midfield and they’re already in negotiations with their top target Guido Pizarro, according to Record. The Tigres midfielder could arrive for around €3m and with William Carvaho out injured for the first few months of the season, Sporting need a replacement, as Oriol Rosell doesn’t fit Jorge Jesus’ demands to be that man.
While Record think Pizarro is just a short-term replacement for William, he may be a more permanent solution as well. On Saturday O Jogo reported that negotiations between PSG and Sporting had evolved midfield tank William, and that a €35m (+€10m in potential bonuses) could head Sporting’s way.
By Jan Hagen (for more from Jan follow him on Twitter @PortuBall)
