Benfica’s endless transfer list

By Dominic Vieira, writing from Lancaster, England

It’s like a 7 year old writing a Christmas list. Madrid based newspaper MARCA are notorious for linking Real Madrid with a series of world class players, how many times has this been done? Countless. If they were eccentric, then that madness is surely taken to another level in Portugal, primarily with the country’s most popular team Benfica. National sports newspapersA Bolaand Record have been busy vandalizing their glossy covers with over a dozen faces, linking them with a move to Benfica and most of them are South American. It’s unlikley that these rumours materialize, after all the papers need to sell. But despite all the hype and anticipation, it’s interesting to see who are the club’s potential targets, so here’s the list:

Enzo Perez (date: 7 June, paper: A Bola) - 25 year old right winger which won the 2009 Copa Libertadores for Estudinates de la Plata. Reported fee: €5.5m

Lorenzo Melgarejo (date 4 June, paper: Record) - Young striker playing for Paraguayan side Independiente Campo Grande. Reported fee: €0.75m.

Bryan Ruiz (date: 2 June, paper: Record) - Highly versatile Costa Rican attacking midfielder currently plying his trade at Twente. Reported fee: €10m

Oriol Romeu (date: 1 June, paper: Record) - Promising Barcelona B and Spanish international defensive midfielder linked with an unlikely move. Reported fee: loan

Efrain Cortes (date: May 28, paper: Record) - 26 year-old centre-back known as the “bullet man” in Mexico for his impressive speed and aigility. Reported fee: €2m

Rodriguez (date: 26 May, paper: Record) - 11th hour attempt to divert Braga’s commanding Peruvian centre-back from Sporting; failed. Reported fee: fee

Andres Guardado (date 26 May, paper: record) - Recently relegated with Deportivo and seen as the prime replacement Coentrao. Reported fee: €7m

Edgar Pacheco (date: 21 May, paper: A Bola) - Young Mexican winger playing for Atlas but the 21 year old joined domestic side Tigres. Reported fee: €3m

Axel Witsel (date: 19 May, paper: Record) - Hot property, Belguim’s highly talented, versatile and developing midfielder. Ambitious. Reported fee: €15m

Danilo (date: 13 May, paper A Bola) - Highly promising Brazilian who represents Santos, can play either as a right winger or inside midfielder. Reported fee: €6.6m

Cristian Ansaldi (date: 13 May, paper Record) - International Argentine who can operate as a left back or right back. Reported fee: €9m

Leandro Damiao (date: 11 May, paper Record) - Promising 21 year old Brazilian striker chased by several European clubs. Realistic? Reported fee: €15m

Despite all the rumours, there have been some concrete deals at the club. Benfica signed Nolito from Barcelona B on a free transfer, Nemanja Matic who was involved in the David Luiz deal completed his move after finishing his loan spell at Vitesse, goalkeeper Artur Moraes left Europa League runners-up Braga on a free, Bruno Cesar joined from Corinthians for €5.5m, Danish international right-back Daniel Wass for €1m, Rodrigo returned from his Bolton loan and and 19 year old Nigerian striker Uche Nwofor is set to complete a deal. Is there room for more players?