Sporting and Benfica move millions before the window opens
Pre-season is not over yet. Still, the Portuguese market is already heating up as if the ball were truly rolling. Sporting and Benfica are behind much of the activity. Both are lining up high-profile exits and reinforcements. And those moves promise to reshape their squads before the season officially kicks off.
Lions strengthen the defence and brace to lose Diomande
Sporting have already confirmed the signing of Ibrahima Ba. The centre-back arrives from Famalicão after passing a medical in Lisbon. The deal is worth around twenty million euros, and it came with a curious backstory. The defender almost signed for Strasbourg. That move reportedly collapsed over a failed medical, a version later disputed by the player’s own agent.
The rush to close Ba is no accident. Nottingham Forest are in advanced talks to sign Ousmane Diomande. The deal could bring the Sporting coffers close to forty million euros. Losing one of the defensive pillars demands an immediate replacement. That is exactly the role the new centre-back is expected to fill.
On the other side of the shopping list, the Alvalade club is also chasing Nestory Irankunda, an Australian winger from Watford. The offer is around fifteen million euros fixed, plus a further five tied to performance targets.
Confirmed exits and a chapter closed with Morita
Two moves are already done. Hidemasa Morita, out of contract with Sporting, signed for free with Hull City. The English side return to the Premier League this season. Ricardo Mangas, meanwhile, has been loaned to Monza. The deal carries an obligatory purchase clause set at one and a half million euros, plus three hundred thousand tied to sporting objectives.
Benfica negotiate António Silva’s exit and eye Schjelderup
At Benfica, the talking point is the possible transfer of António Silva to Bournemouth. The parties are said to have agreed the main terms. Only the final details are left to formalise. The operation is estimated at close to twenty-five million euros. That figure would give the Eagles’ finances a considerable boost.
In parallel, Tottenham have identified Andreas Schjelderup as their priority target for the flanks. They are said to have made first contact with Benfica. The young Norwegian is drawing growing interest in the Premier League. Any deal could become another notable chapter of the window.
A German backdrop: Klopp takes over the national team
Away from the Portuguese axis, one story caught the eye across Europe. Jürgen Klopp is back on the touchline. This time he will manage the German national team, succeeding Julian Nagelsmann. The coach had been away since leaving Liverpool at the end of the 2023/24 season. His arrival promises to revive expectations around the Mannschaft ahead of the next international fixtures. Follow more transfer news in our football section.
