Benfica seriously bites for Šutalo
Portuguese media claim that Josip Šutalo is among the most serious candidates to fill the gap in the Lisbon club's defense, which earned 25 million euros from the sale of Antonio Silva.
Portuguese media claim that Josip Šutalo is among the most serious candidates to fill the gap in the Lisbon club's defense, which earned 25 million euros from the sale of Antonio Silva.
Croatian national team defender Josip Šutalo is once again in the spotlight of Portugal's Benfica. The Lisbon club is intensively searching for a reinforcement in the back line after Portuguese international Antonio Silva officially moved to England's Bournemouth.
Portuguese newspaper Record, citing information from the Netherlands, reports that Šutalo is one of the main candidates to arrive at Estádio da Luz. Similar information is brought by Sport TV Portugal, which claims that the Croatian defender is among the most serious options to fill the vacant spot in defense.
With the sale of Antonio Silva, Benfica earned 25 million euros, according to Portuguese media, with a possible additional five million through bonuses. These funds have provided the Lisbon club with the financial basis to bring in a new, quality central defender who could immediately take on an important role in the team.
Šutalo arrived at Ajax from Zagreb's Dinamo in the summer of 2023 in a transfer worth 20.5 million euros. He has a contract with the Dutch giants until the summer of 2028. Last season, he made 31 appearances for Ajax, and his name has been linked with a move away from Amsterdam before.
Benfica's interest now carries additional weight because the Portuguese club urgently needs a stopper who would immediately fit into the team's demands. A potential move to the Portuguese giants would represent another significant step forward in the career of the 24-year-old Croatian international.
Whether the transfer will actually happen remains to be seen in the final stages of the transfer window, but it is clear that Šutalo is high on the wish list of the club from Estádio da Luz.
