Benfica midfielder’s visit to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium sparks transfer rumours

Heorhiy Sudakov was in attendance to watch Spurs seal their Premier League survival against Everton on Sunday

Tottenham Hotspur managed to maintain their Premier League status on Sunday with a 1-0 victory in front of their own supporters.

Portuguese midfielder João Palhinha scored the game’s only goal just before half time which eventually proved enough to hand Spurs the most vital of three points.

However, another midfielder, who currently plies his trade in Portugal, also attracted attention for his presence inside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Heorhiy Sudakov, a highly-regarded Ukrainian attacking midfielder who plays for Benfica, watched the match from the stands together with his agent Vadim Shablii.

Sudakov first burst onto the scene with Shakhtar Donetsk after coming up through the club’s academy together with Chelsea’s Mykhailo Mudryk.

After making 100 senior appearances with the Ukrainian giants, in which he scored 29 goals, including his first every Champions League goal away at Barcelona in a 2-1 defeat, the midfielder sealed a loan move to Benfica last summer with an obligation to buy in a deal worth around €25m.

His first season has been steady with Benfica, registering four goals and four assists in 36 appearances this campaign.

Why was Sudakov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

While his presence at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, from where he even uploaded a photo with his agent, has stirred the rumour mill, Portuguese newspaper A Bola reports that the visit was nothing more than a trip to see a good friend.

Ukrainian international teammate Vitaliy Mykolenko was playing for Everton in the fixture, and it is believed that Sudakov was taking the opportunity to watch him in action.

However, given that Sudakov was in attendance with his agent, the rumours are unlikely to be pushed aside easily.