Benfica set on Kleberson

Benfica are refusing to give up on the prospect of signing Manchester United’s injured Brazilian midfielder Kleberson.

The 25-year-old World Cup-winner Kleberson is sidelined with an ankle injury, but that has not put off Benfica boss Giovanni Trapattoni.

“The player wants to come, the businessmen also, but not the club,” Trapattoni told the Daily Express.

“We have spoken already but we are going to pursue the possibility of hiring him. Negotiations are not always easy, but the deal is not at a standstill.”

United paid Atletico Paranaense £6m (€8.5m) for Kleberson’s services but have so far been rewarded with only 22 first-team starts in 18 months from the injury-plagued player.