Benfica are finalizing deals to sign Moroccan left-back El Karouani and Colombian midfielder Puerta with five days remaining before the transfer window closes.
The Portuguese club considers defender El Karouani from Saudi Arabian team Al-Qadisiyah as virtually secured, while midfielder Puerta from Spanish side Racing Santander is also on the verge of joining the squad.
However, the arrival of Puerta depends on current squad movements. The Colombian midfielder is expected to join immediately only if Richard Rios, Leandro Barreiro, or both players depart from the club in the coming days.
Squad Changes and Midfield Movements
El Karouani previously made a name for himself playing for FC Utrecht in the Netherlands before his move to Saudi Arabia. Now, Benfica is looking to complete his transfer to reinforce the left side of their defense.
Benfica manager Marco Silva reiterated that he wishes to keep the core group of his team together. Nevertheless, the head coach acknowledged that squad developments remain likely before the transfer deadline.
Addressing rumors around Leandro Barreiro, Silva stated that a departure is not 100 percent ruled out, though he has not received official confirmation regarding a transfer. He praised Barreiro as a focused player who gives everything on the pitch and highlighted his importance during the absence of Fredrik, adding that the club is very satisfied with his contributions.
Meanwhile, midfielder Richard Rios has seen limited starting appearances and could leave Lisbon. Benfica is seeking a permanent sale or a loan agreement featuring an obligatory purchase clause valued strictly above 30 million euros. The club previously acquired Rios last summer for 27 million euros, and Turkish team Galatasaray is currently tracking the player.
Manager Comments on Target and Squad Selection
When asked directly about Puerta potential transfer to fill an opening in midfield, Silva declined to discuss players not currently under contract at Benfica. He emphasized that his focus remains solely on the players available in his current squad.
Silva also addressed the recent lack of playing time for new signing Kaminski. Speaking on the eve of Benfica upcoming match against Estoril, the manager explained that his responsibility is to select the best lineup for each specific fixture based on performance requirements.
The manager noted that Kaminski has already begun getting opportunities on the pitch and that expectations for him had been clearly stated. In a lighthearted comment to reporters, Silva joked that journalists might have expected him to drop Gianluca Prestianni to play Kaminski because Prestianni had performed somewhat poorly in recent games.
European Fixtures and Upcoming Schedule
Beyond domestic action against Estoril, Benfica faces a demanding schedule in European competition. The team is set to travel to Italy to face AC Milan just four days before a crucial domestic fixture against FC Porto at the Estadio do Dragao.
The European match will see Benfica cross paths with AC Milan, a side associated with Amorim and Ramos, as the club navigates both domestic league ambitions and continental fixtures while settling its final squad composition.
