Bruno Lage had Portuguese journalists scratching their heads on Friday when he name-dropped a Sheffield Wednesday midfielder during a conversation about transfer window targets.
Lage was Wednesday’s assistant manager for two-and-a-half years under Carlos Carvalhal.
But after a short spell in charge of Benfica’s second string and an even shorter one as first-team caretaker boss, he is now leading the Eagles on a full-time basis.
“Since I’m a nice guy, I’ll give you one more name,” Lage said, as quoted by Mais Futebol. “Adam Reach.
“He’s like a player like Chiquinho [the Benfica attacking midfielder], but he doesn’t have a moustache, like André Almeida [the Benfica right-back]. He is more like Chris Waddle [the legendary former Sheffield Wednesday and England winger].”
The Benfica coach Lage. (Photo by David Martins/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
The Portuguese website claims, through its own information, that Reach’s signing was considered by Benfica in the summer transfer window, but a move to the Estadio da Luz failed to advance.
The 26-year-old scored or made 16 goals in 46 games for Sheffield Wednesday last season.
The Owls are reported to have paid around £5 million for Reach in 2016, handing him a five-year contract.
