Benfica shareholder tries to stitch up Sporting over Issa Doumbia | OneFootball

The battle for Issa Doumbia has taken a new turn behind the scenes, with an investor linked to Benfica trying to interfere in the negotiations Sporting have been conducting with Venezia. The 22-year-old midfielder remains one of the Lions’ main targets to strengthen the midfield next season.

The Alvalade club had made progress in talks and shown willingness to meet the €15 million initially requested by Venezia. However, American businesswoman Francesca Leiweke Bodie, who is close to becoming a shareholder in the Eagles’ club and also holds a stake in the Italian side, is said to have tried to influence the outcome of the deal.

After that intervention, Venezia’s officials raised their financial demands for the player, in an attempt to buy time so Benfica could enter the race under better conditions or even submit an offer higher than Sporting’s.

Now, with competition from English clubs Brentford, Newcastle and Everton, the Venetian club are asking for around €20 million for the Italy Under-21 international. The deal between the Italians and the Lions could even be finalized by the end of this month of May.

This season, playing for Venezia, Issa Doumbia – valued at €8 million – has made 38 appearances. In total, across the 3,189 minutes he has spent on the pitch, the midfielder has scored 10 goals and provided five assists.

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