Rui Costa eyes Premier League star to bolster Benfica midfield | OneFootball

Sport Lisboa e Benfica – who won convincingly in Moreira de Cónegos – remain very attentive to the international market to strengthen their midfield. The target identified by the structure led by Rui Costa is Noah Sadiki, a young midfielder who has been making a name for himself at Sunderland. The international for the Democratic Republic of Congo has impressed the Benfica scouts with his performances in the demanding Premier League.

The race to sign the promising midfielder promises to be fierce and filled with significant obstacles. The club from Luz faces direct competition from true European giants, namely Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham, Marseille, Dortmund, Leipzig, and Milan. All these clubs are monitoring the player’s development, which significantly complicates the Portuguese side’s aspirations in this process.

An eventual transfer does not seem likely in the immediate future, with attention turning to the summer of 2026. According to information released by specialist Ekrem Konur, the player is happy at his current club, but a substantial offer could change the situation.

Target too expensive

The financial aspect is, without a doubt, the biggest obstacle to fulfilling this long-standing desire. The player is considered a very expensive dream for the Portuguese reality, currently being valued at around 25 million euros. This amount would require Benfica’s board to make a considerable effort if they want to overcome the financial power of their rivals.

This season, Noah Sadiki has been a key player for the English team. The 20-year-old midfielder has already played 20 official matches across various competitions. In the 1,789 minutes he has been on the pitch, the player has not scored any goals but has contributed with one assist.

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