The link to Benfica goalkeeper Bruno Varela is a bit of a strange one. Costel Pantilimon was always likely to come in as our new number one, but Record in Portugal say we are interested in the Portuguese keeper as well.
We no doubt have excellent relations with the 23-year-old’s club Benfica after signing Joao Carvalho, as well as securing Diogo Goncalves on loan. However, the stopper has a £15m price tag according to reports, and I don’t see us breaking our transfer record for a second time this summer.
The club have certainly shown their ambition in the summer signings they have made already during this transfer window. Varela is definitely a talented player. He broke into Benfica’s first team last season, making 35 appearances in all competitions.
Before his breakthrough at his parent club, he also had spells on loan at Real Valladolid and Vitoria Setubal and has played 11 times for Portugal’s Under 21 side.
Premier League clubs Newcastle and Watford are also said to be in the running, and I would expect that his future is likely to lie elsewhere, rather than at the City Ground. What do you think? Is a move for Varela realistic? Let me know in the poll below:
