Roger Schmidt is already working on next season, when the current PSV coach holds sway at Benfica. According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the German coach is thinking of the arrival of David Neres, who exchanged Ajax for Shakhtar Donetsk in January. There is, according to Romano and oh jogo already spoken with the management of the wing attacker, although nothing concrete has yet come out.
According to GOAL it is only a matter of time before an agreement is reached by all parties involved. Neres, who is detained by Shakthar until December 31, 2026, has not yet acted for his current employer due to the war situation in Ukraine. He is expected to join Benfica in July, provided an agreement is reached and the medical examination does not cause any problems. Corinthians and São Paulo have also reportedly made an offer, but Benfica appears to have the best papers to sign Neres.
Benfica Revolution. Roger Schmidt signs until June 2024 – there’s no option for further season. Darwin Núñez will leave the club, and €75m now could not be enough. † #BenficaTalks opened for David Neres as target, confirmed as reported by @ojogo – but nothing agreed yet.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) Apr 30, 2022
Due to a special FIFA arrangement, the contracts of foreign players in Ukraine have been suspended until the end of the season. If desired, players can move to other competitions in the meantime, although Neres seems to want to wait until the summer. The former Ajax player fears for the safety of his family and therefore wants to leave Shakthar, which deposited fifteen million euros for him a few months ago. Neres wants to continue to play in Europe and stay in the picture with the Brazilian national team. He refused to travel with his teammates to Turkey, where they are thinking about the upcoming season, the winger told the Shakhtar board.
Romano continues in his tweet about the ‘Benfica Revolution’. Schmidt will sign in Lisbon until mid-2024, without an option for a third season. The PSV coach denied this week that he has already reached an agreement with Benfica, which has already announced his arrival. Schmidt will probably have to do without the coveted Darwin Nuñez next season. Romano predicts that 75 million euros is not enough for the striker who eliminated Ajax in the eighth final of the Champions League.