Sporting Transfer Market: Kaique on his way, Zekri signs in Lisbon

Frederico Varandas announced yesterday that Sporting will bring in two more reinforcements before the transfer window closes. While the Lions' president didn't name names, we know they are a goalkeeper and a left-back. The goalkeeper is Kaique, who is en route to Alvalade; as for the full-back, A BOLA had already reported last week that it would be Moncef Zekri, the Moroccan who arrived in Lisbon yesterday to sign a five-year deal. Both players are expected to cost around €4 million.

The agreement with the Brazilian goalkeeper from Palmeiras, who played for Nacional last season, is close to being finalized. This move is facilitated by the impending departure of João Virgínia, who has suitors in Turkey. Virgínia's exit paves the way for Kaique, who, according to ESPN Brasil, will cost approximately €4 million.

The goalkeeper is set to sign a five-year contract with Sporting, valid until June 2031. He will serve as a competitor and is on track to eventually become the club's number one shot-stopper once Rui Silva departs. The 32-year-old Portuguese international is currently under contract until 2028.

Kaique Pereira, previously identified by A BOLA as a target for the Lions, is thus returning to Portuguese football. After starting his youth career at Portuguesa and completing it at Palmeiras, the young goalkeeper had loan spells at Farense and Nacional. Negotiations are advanced, which is why the player was not even an option for Abel Ferreira on Palmeiras' bench for yesterday's match against Vasco da Gama.

Moncef Zekri is already in Lisbon to sign a five-year contract with Sporting. The 17-year-old Moroccan left-back is expected to be officially announced in the coming hours, pending medical examinations and all contractual paperwork.

The replacement for Ricardo Mangas is almost secured. Mangas, a left-back, moved to Monza on a loan deal with an obligatory purchase clause set at €1.5 million, plus €300,000 in bonuses. After market analysis, the club's structure opted for Zekri (as reported by A BOLA), with the reinforcement landing in the Portuguese capital yesterday. The young Moroccan international, born in Brussels and developed at Mechelen, made his debut for the Belgian club in May 2025 against Charleroi (1-1). After playing 17 first-team matches last season and winning the U17 AFCON as a starter for Morocco, he attracted Sporting's interest. This season, he played the full 90 minutes in the league's opening round (a 0-2 loss to Gent), missing subsequent games against Standard Liège (3-3) and Charleroi this Saturday (0-2), the latter due to his advanced transfer to Sporting.

Viewed as a promising talent, Moncef Zekri emerges as a viable option to cover for Maxi Araújo's absences. Sporting's plan involves the gradual integration of the young left-back, preparing him to become a starter from next summer. At that point, the departure of the highly sought-after Uruguayan international seems very likely, despite his recent contract renewal until 2030. Beyond his sporting performance, Zekri's youth ensures significant potential for financial appreciation at Alvalade. A month shy of his 18th birthday, Moncef Zekri embarks on a new chapter in his career, joining a major Portuguese club where he can compete for titles and play in the UEFA Champions League.

Sporting will pay Mechelen approximately €4 million, including performance-based objectives. Moncef Zekri will be a Lion until 2031 and is expected to have an €80 million release clause.

It was before the handball Super Cup in Santo Tirso, which Sporting won against Benfica, that Frederico Varandas revealed that "almost certainly two more players" would join Sporting's squad.

At that time, the strong possibility of the green and whites signing the Brazilian goalkeeper from Palmeiras was already known... "Is it Kaique? I won't say anything more," added the Lions' president, without referring to the Moncef Zekri dossier, who was already en route to Lisbon at that point.

With the full-back already at Alvalade and Kaique on his way, Sporting will have made ten reinforcements this summer of 2026: Ibrahima Ba (€21.25 M/Famalicão), Doumbia (€20 M/Veneza), Pedro Lima (€4 M/Aves SAD), Silas Andersen (€7.25 M/Hacken), Altimira (€18 M/Betis), Zalazar (€30 M/SC Braga), Irankunda (€15 M/Watford), and Derry (loan from Chelsea).