Rui Costa halts Benfica overhaul; for now, only two near exit | OneFootball

Benfica are preparing to approach the transfer market differently from usual. The participation of several players in the 2026 World Cup and the early start to the new season have led Rui Costa and Benfica’s SAD to adopt a more conservative strategy, prioritising squad stability in the first weeks of work.

The intention is to keep most players available to the coaching staff until the start of official competition. The board’s priority is to allow Marco Silva, who is increasingly close to taking charge of the Eagles, the chance to assess the available resources before final decisions are made regarding departures.

In that context, Sidny Cabral is expected to be one of the rare exceptions. Despite having publicly expressed his desire to stay at the Luz, the Cape Verdean is very close to joining Trabzonspor. The agreement between the clubs is practically done, and Benfica are expected to receive around €12 million (€10m+€2m), although part of that fee will go to Estrela da Amadora, who retained a percentage of his rights.

Henrique Araújo could also be part of the small group of players allowed to leave at an early stage of the market. Other players who had been tipped to head for the exit, however, are expected to remain a while longer. Cases such as Georgiy Sudakov and Bruma will be reassessed by the new coach, and both are expected to begin pre-season with the rest of the squad.

Meanwhile, the board’s main concern is bringing in reinforcements. The signing of a centre-back is considered a priority, especially following the departure of Nicolás Otamendi and at a time when Tomás Araújo will be involved in the 2026 World Cup. Although youngsters such as Gonçalo Oliveira, Joshua Wynder and João Fonseca are being closely monitored, Benfica are looking in the market for an experienced centre-back, preferably left-footed, to strengthen the heart of the defence.

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