"Should I Stay, Or Should I Go?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"If I go there will be trouble, and if I stay there will be double."

 

Name: Oscar Cardozo

Age: 29

Position: Striker

Purchase Value: Approximately 9.200.000 €

Market Value: Approximately 17.500.000 €

Contract Expires: 2014

The reality: Benfica's rumour King has to be Oscar Cardozo. "Tacuara" arrived at the helm in 2007. He has scored over 100 goals for Benfica (including a hat-trick at this past Monday's Lisbon Derby, and another hat trick against Maritimo) and will go down as one of Benfica's best players ever. Whether you like him or hate him the reality is that Cardozo does his job well as a striker and that is score goals."Tacuara" is often perceived as slow, and is criticized for not coming back and helping out the midfield. What he may lack in speed he makes up for goals.

Exit Price: If Cardozo keeps scoring goals the way he has been I can't see SLB letting him go cheap. He is the most valuable striker (maybe player) in Liga Zon Sagres and IMO he will not go for less then 30.000.000 €.If he does not leave this year, then he will retire at SLB.I can't see him leaving Portugal especially to go play in countries like Ukraine or Russian where it's cold and he does not speak the language. However, with teams like Everton, and Liverpool wanting to re-build and try to get that important Champions League spot in England, I can see him playing a vital role on either side.

 

Who Takes His Spot? With Lima and Rodrigo also on the tear, Benfica can afford to get rid of Cardozo because they are not lacking strikers. Although Benfica is dependent on Cardozo to score, and he has a great UEFA track record of 10 goals in 24 appearances this season alone, after 5 years with a club it's time to bring back Nelson Oliveira and carry the team forward. Alan Kardec, and Hugo Viera can fill in if they decide to return from their loans.

Name: Nicolás Gaitán

Age: 24

Position: Winger/ Attacking Midfielder

Purchase Value: Approximately 8.400.000 €

Market Value: Approximately 16.000.000 €

Contract Expires: 2016

The reality:It was last summer in which we started hearing rumours that Gaitán had caught the eye of Manchester United and that the scouts from Old Trafford were in the stands watching Gaitán.

According to the stats Gaitán has scored 10 goals in 54 appearances and besides Manchester United, Russian side Anzhi has expressed interest in Gaitán. Although there were rumours that United were ready to pay 20 million pounds for him, Anzhi at one point were rumoured to offer slb 30 million euros.Gaitán never left last summer when at the time his departure was guaranteed. Gaitán came to SLB as a replacement for Angel di Maria. Although Gaitán was named "Breakthrough player" in the 2010/11 season and has been compared to the likes of Juan Roman Riquelme he is not consistent.It's doubtful to see Gaitán going to Manchester United and becoming a top player in the EPL. He has not done much for SLB this season. He thought that he was going to be sold to a big club for big money and this got to his head which has affected his performance at SLB.If he is sold it will be to a Russian team. However, with his style of play i can see him playing in the Serie A.

Exit Price: If SLB get 15-20 million for him it would smart to sell him.

Who Takes The Spot: Benfica is stacked with wingers. Mostly Salvio and John are in the starting 11 however, if Gaitán does leave, perhaps Urreta can get another change at the club?

 

Name: Nélson Oliveira

Age: 21

Position: Striker

Purchase Value: Approximately ?

Market Value: Approximately 6.000.000 €

Contract Expires: 2017

The Reality: Oliveira has also been linked to Manchester United. Oliveira is also rumoured to have Manchester City and Chelsea looking at the young 21 year old striker. Although Oliveira has not scored a ton of goals at a club level in his early career, he showed promise when he represented the Portugal in Euro 2012. In total he has scored a total of 27 goals in all Portugal youth competitions (U16, U17, U19, U20, U21) and is a Portuguese born striker, a rare commodity for not only Benfica but for Portugal as well.

Exit Price: Benfica should hold onto Oliveira and he should not be on loan to Deportivo De La Corunha, he should be at Benfica making up the Portuguese players that are lacking on the squad. I don't know if I would start him every game but he would have a more dominant role at Benfica then coming off of th bench at Deportivo.(January return?) LFV and JJ should come up with a development plan for Oliveira and coach him to be the next big forthcoming out of Benfica. Nuno Gomes, Rui Costa, that type of status. Hold onto him as long as you can but if big money comes I would sell him for no less then 30 million. Chances are Benfica may just sell him to one of the Manchester's come January for 20-25 million.

Who Takes His Spot? See Cardozo

Name: Ola John

Age: 20

Position: Left Winger/ Striker

Purchase Value: Approximately 9.000.000 €

Market Value: Approximately 9.000.000 €

Contract Expires: 2017

The Reality: John just arrived at Benfica in the summer and it took him a few months to get exposure but after an impressive performance throughout the group stages of the UEFA Champions League, John has begun to turn some heads not just in Portugal but also at Old Trafford. It would make more sense for United to go after John then Gaitan. John is younger and although he lacks experience he will eventually go onto major success with any team and will be represent Holland well on the world's stage.

Exit Price: I can't see Benfica giving him up already. Benfica will hold onto him for another year or so and then sell him for 25-30 million. John also has a 45 million buy out clause so I highly doubt at such an early stage in his career that Man U would pay enormous money for this kid. However, Kagawa and Nani have both been injured as of late so anything is possible.

 

Who Takes His Place: See Nolito

 

Name: Nolito 

Age: 26

Position: Left Winger

Purchase Value: ?

Market Value: Approximately 9.500.000 €

Contract Expires: ?

The Reality: Nolito has been linked to many English teams as of late such as; Liverpool, West Ham, Arsenal. This goes without question since the winger possesses a quick speed as he once belonged to the Barcelona B camp. Around the time Garcia and Witsel SLB, it seemed as though Nolito was on his way out and back to Spain but that never occurred. With the recent success of Ola John, Nolito has been a bench warmer or coming off the bench with few minutes played throughout each game. He did look impressive during the Barcelona Champions League group stages matches.

Exit Price: Between 12 - 15.000.000 €

Who Takes The Spot: No question Ola John can easily become the starting Left Winger at SLB. You also have Bruno Cesar (if he does not leave) an "adapted" winger. Speaking of an "adapted" player Melgarejo could become a forward winger and there is also Luisinho, and Luis Martins. Also, Yannick Djalo (if he comes back, not my personal number one choice)

 

 

Name: Miguel Vitor

Age: 23

Position: Centre Back Defender

Purchase Value: Approximately ?

Market Value: Approximately 1.500.000 €

Contract Expires: 2013

The Reality: Vitor has been on the team since 2007. He has not been given enough minutes on the pitch. Many feel that during the absence of Luisão that Vitor should of been filing in the position and not Jardel. Vitor is a Portuguese player which is always needed on SLB. Him and Roderick and Faria need more game time to develop. With his contract expiring in the summer, I can't see him renewing.

Exit Price: I Can't see him for going more then 1.5-2M due to his lack of playing time. Vitor has experience in England where he played one season with Leicester City where he often started.

Who Takes The Spot:If he goes there is still Jardel, Faria, Roderick, Sidnei that can fill in as back up centre backs to Luisão and Garay. Again it's one less Portuguese player on the team.

 

Name: Pablo Aimar

Age: 33

Position: Attacking Midfielder

Purchase Value: Approximately 6.500.000 €

Market Value: Approximately 6.000.000 €

Contract Expires: 2013

The Reality: Aimar is at the point of his career in which he is beginning to slow down. The Argentine superstar is injury prone and has played very little minutes this season. When Aimar is healthy he does make a difference on the pitch 60 minutes or so at a time. Sir Alex Ferguson expressed on several occasions that he would dream of having Aimar on Manchester United. At his age, this is unlikely. Aimar has expressed interest that he would like to end his career in the team that made him River Plate in Argentina.

Exit Price: Market Value

Who Takes His Spot: Carlos Martins (also injury prone), Enzo Pérez has done a decent job this season. André Gomes is up and coming and plays very well in the mid. Benfica may need to seek a new number 10 to compete for longevity in the UEFA competitions.

 

Name: Rodrigo
Age: 21
Position: Striker - Centre Forward
Purchase Value: Approximately 6.000.000 €
Market Value: Approximately 10.000.000 €
Contract Expires: 2019

The Reality: With Cardozo and Lima starting most games, Rodrigo's role at SLB lately has been very limited with him coming off the bench. He has been a lethal force on the Spain U-21 team and coming from Real Madrid B team and a loan experience at Bolton, Rodrigo has gained much exposure in such little time.

Exit Price: An English side transfer is a possibility but I can't see Benfica letting him go on the cheap. A generous offer will be necessary.

Who Takes His Spot: Lima and Cardozo (if he stays). Oliveira may have more of a role on SLB if Rodrigo leaves.