Benfica offer 20m for centre-back who left Sporting for free | OneFootball

Benfica remain active in the transfer market and could move for another centre-back: Tiago Gabriel, currently playing for Lecce. The Eagles are said to have already begun talks in an attempt to secure the young Portuguese player who came through Sporting.

At 21, he established himself this season in the Italian side, playing an important role in their survival in Serie A. The footballer earned regular starter status and has been attracting the attention of several clubs, including Benfica, who are said to have already submitted an offer in the region of €20 million, according to journalist Nicolò Schira.

However, Lecce do not appear willing to make his departure easy. The club are seeking a fee of between €25 million and €30 million and are under no pressure to sell, especially as the player is under contract until June 2029. Even so, the club from Luz continue to consider strengthening the heart of their defence.

Tiago Gabriel came through the youth ranks of the Alvalade club between 2014 and 2020, before continuing his career at Vitória de Setúbal and later Estrela da Amadora, eventually joining Lecce in 2025, where he has been making his mark in professional football.

In the 2025/26 season, Tiago Gabriel - valued at €15 million - made 39 official appearances in a Lecce shirt: 37 in Serie A and two in the Coppa Italia. In the 3,400 minutes he spent on the pitch, the player scored two goals.

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