Benfica is trying to strengthen its defense for the next season, but Lecce is not willing to sell Tiago Gabriel, the 15 million euro-valued central defender. According to Glorioso 1904, the cost of any agreement is a key obstacle. Tiago Gabriel's value has increased after an exceptional Serie A season, complicating any transfer. Rui Costa, Mário Branco and Marco Silva are prioritizing two central defenders with different profiles, one experienced and one with potential. Many alternatives remain under review to strengthen a department that has suffered significant losses. With Nicolás Otamendi having transferred to River Plate and Tomás Araújo at the World Cup, Benfica faces a delicate start to pre-season. Currently, António Silva is the only first-team central defender available to begin training. In 2025/26, Tiago Gabriel played 39 games for Lecce, 37 in Serie A and two in the Italian Cup. He played 3,400 minutes and scored two goals.