SC Freiburg in pole position to sign Jan-Niklas Beste from Benfica | OneFootball

Sky Germany reports that SC Freiburg are in pole position to sign former Heidenheim and current Benfica midfielder Jan-Niklas Beste.

Concrete negotiations have already taken place between Beste and Freiburg over a potential transfer this month. Borussia Mönchengladbach were also interested in the 26-year-old but the transfer fee that Benfica are demanding is too expensive for them. RB Leipzig was linked at the beginning of the month as a backup option for David Raum, but they decided to focus on other areas.

Benfica want €12m either through a direct sale or from a loan with an obligation to buy at the end of the loan.

Beste has struggled to maintain a place in the starting 11 while in the Portuguese capital, especially following the sacking of Roger Schmidt as Benfica’s head coach.

The 26-year-old would offer an alternative in the Black Forest to Vincenzo Grifo. The pair have similar qualities and can play in similar positions just as Beste is younger than the German-Italian.

GGFN | Jack Meenan