Primeira Liga giants SL Benifca were reportedly in talks to sign Didier Ndong from League One Sunderland.
Eight years after he left for Chelsea in a £17 million deal, Ramires is on his way back to Benfica.
That is according to A Bola, who claim that the 52-time Brazil midfielder is set to complete an emotional return to the Estadio Da Luz after two years in China with Jiangsu Suning.
But why should Sunderland fans care about whether Ramires re-joins the club with whom he won the Primeira Liga title in 2010? Well, because this could have a major impact on the future of Didier Ndong.
According to A Bola last week, Benfica opened talks over a deal to sign Sunderland’s £13.6 million misfit. Ndong hasn’t featured for the Black Cats since being sent off in a 4-0 defeat to Cardiff in January and Sunderland are desperate to get one of their highest earning players off the wage bill.
The Gazette Live even suggests that a deal to re-sign former academy graduate Grant Leadbitter from Middlesbrough rests on whether Ndong leaves before the transfer deadline on Friday.
But do Benfica really need a player with questionable ability and attitude if they are to bring fans’ favourite Ramires back to Lisbon?
One of the most dramatic transfer stories in Portugal this summer could really ruin the end of Sunderland’s window.
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