Benfica Transfer Market: Ivanovic Confirmed to Depart, Authorized to Travel

Benfica has granted Franjo Ivanovic permission to travel to France for a medical examination and to finalize his signing with Lens.

The Croatian forward, acquired by the Eagles a year ago for €22.8 million from Belgian side Saint-Gilloise, is set to join Les Sang et Or on a loan deal until the end of the season.

Benfica will receive a loan fee, and the agreement does not include an option to buy.

Ivanovic never managed to displace Pavlidis from Benfica's starting eleven, neither last season nor this current one under Marco Silva. The arrival of Durán at the Estádio da Luz further limited the 22-year-old attacker's opportunities. Had he stayed, he would have been the third-choice option for the attack, a role now expected to be filled by Anísio Cabral.

This loan move is Benfica's strategy to help the player regain his market value and confidence, which has been shaken after a debut season in Portugal where he scored only 9 goals in 43 appearances (with just 16 starts).

Ivanovic chose Lens and Ligue 1 as his next destination, despite also attracting interest from clubs in England (Hull City), Spain (Betis), and Italy (Lazio).