Benfica alternative if Palhinha fails could come from Barcelona | OneFootball

João Palhinha remains Benfica’s priority to strengthen the midfield, but the difficulties in finalizing a deal with Bayern Munich are forcing the Eagles’ board to keep other options on the table. And, according to the Catalan press, one of those alternatives could come directly from Barcelona.

According to Sport, Marc Casadó is among the players Barcelona are looking to sell in this transfer window. The 22-year-old Spanish defensive midfielder is said to be open to hearing offers, and Benfica are among the clubs mentioned as possible destinations.

Benfica, however, still have Palhinha at the top of their priority list. The Portugal international is seen as the ideal player for Marco Silva’s needs, but the process remains complicated, especially because Bayern prefer a permanent transfer.

The situation became even more uncertain after Aston Villa resumed negotiations for the Portuguese midfielder. Although Bayern CEO Max Eberl recently assured that there was no possibility of an agreement with the English club, Villa have stepped up their pursuit again and are trying to convince the Germans with a loan deal including an option to buy. It is in this context that Casadó could gain ground in Benfica’s plans.

Barcelona want to bring in more than €30 million from the midfielder’s departure, a figure that makes the deal demanding, but one that Benfica could consider if negotiations for Palhinha do not come to a successful conclusion. The Spain international is also being tracked by Nottingham Forest, while interest from Al Hilal and Al Ahli has cooled due to the player’s desire to remain in European football. Jorge Mendes is working to find a solution for the midfielder’s future.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.