David Tavares completes loan move to Moreirense

After much speculation over the future of Benfica’s highly rated midfielder, David Tavares’ destination is finally known.

The 21-year old has officially completed a move to Portuguese Primeira Liga outfit Moreirense on a season-long loan.

David Tavares, alongside winger Jota, have been fully expected to be loaned out this window; with the likes of Everton Cebolinha, Pedrinho, Luca Waldschmidt and Darwin Nunez added to an already stacked squad, room for attacking-minded players such as Jota and Tavares is not feasible, and both have been expected to leave this autumn.

Tavares, who was one of the most promising players in Benfica’s academy, was showing great promise building up to the 2018-19 season, and was set to be integrated into the first-team squad in the same year that Joao Felix made a name for himself, but for a serious cruciate ligament injury in pre-season.

As a result, Tavares missed the vast majority of that campaign, only returning to the field in March 2019 where he played eight times for the Benfica B team.

He returned to senior team training in the summer of 2019, and impressed Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp in a preparation match in the build-up to Liverpool’s Champions League final clash with Tottenham.

His aggression and technical ability surprised the Liverpool coaching staff, and earned Tavares some highly reputable admirers.

However, his injury problems have ensured that his development has been hindered somewhat, and his game time for the senior Benfica team last season was extremely limited as a result. A move is therefore required to rejuvinate a career that has promised so much, but has so far failed to deliver.

Tavares signed a new contract with Benfica as recently as July 2019, signing on a long-term deal with a release clause of 66 million euros, showing how highly Benfica have rated him.

He was previously associated with a move to Nottingham Forest, but the English Championship club opted not to sign him.