標籤: Europa

nottingham forest The stance on Jair Cunha is becoming clear. While several Brazilian clubs have explored a move for the defender in recent months, at least one of those approaches has been solidified. Even if he hits the wall.

The 20-year-old has become one of the most watched forest fringe players in Brazil.

Flemish Have seen him. botafogo A reunion figured out. cruise Recently another fan has emerged. Yet despite limited opportunities in England, there has been little sign that Forest are keen to let him go.

The numbers show there’s still work to do

Jair Cunha has only played 16 matches this season with 1057 minutes. These figures explain why the Brazilian club believe a loan could be possible.

according to ball radarSao Paulo became the latest club to test the waters.

The Brazilian side requested information about Jair Cunha and evaluated the possibility of a loan. However, Forest expressed no interest in a deal under those terms.

As a result, discussions never progressed and São Paulo moved on to other defensive targets.

That detail is the most interesting development here. Previous reports focused only on Brazilian clubs. This time his effort gave an indication of Forrest’s position.

Reference to Youngster

Jair Cunha barely featured in the first half of the campaign, but injuries, rotation and Nottingham Forest’s deep Europa League run opened the door for him. As the fixtures piled up, Vitor Pereira turned to the Brazilian as a squad option.

Forest’s pressure on several fronts gave Jair Cunha an unexpected opportunity. With the club’s Premier League and Europa League commitments, the young defender moved from the team’s fringes to a useful rotation piece during the busiest period of the season.

The Brazilian did not even see many minutes in the beginning. However, Forest’s busy schedule and lengthy Europa League trip created opportunities, allowing Jair Cunha to establish himself as a reliable depth option for several weeks. And this was his wish All the time.

what happens next

Forest paid around £10.3m (€12m) to sign Jair Cunha from Botafogo after the Club World Cup. Given that investment and his age profile, it wouldn’t be surprising if the club still view him as a long-term project rather than a player who can move quickly.

Brazilian clubs line up. However, Forrest appears to be much less willing than many of them to open the door.

Aston Villa The Europa League triumph has thrust Emiliano Buendia back into the spotlight at exactly the right time for the club – and also at an awkward moment regarding his future.

The Argentine midfielder was one of Villa’s standout performers during the latter stages of the competition. However, the uncertainty surrounding his long-term condition has not gone away.

Recent reports link them to a Possible move to Turkish side GalatasarayWhile his current contract at Villa Park now has just over a year left.

This means Buendia will be able to negotiate a free transfer with foreign clubs from January, unless Aston Villa extend his deal or sell him this summer.

Against that backdrop, the 29-year-old has now opened the door to another future possibility – one that probably won’t please everyone in Argentina… or in Birmingham.

The dream of returning home exposed

As relayed by Argentine outlet TN SportsBuendia admitted that his dream was to one day play for River Plate. He also made it clear that he would reject a move to rivals Boca Juniors, even if club legend Juan Román Riquelme, now their director of football, personally called him.

“River is Argentina’s only club,” Buendia said. “If Roman calls me? No, not there.”

Then he added: “Playing for River has been my dream since childhood.”

This is a very bold stance considering Boca remains one of the most prestigious clubs in world football. It also reinforces how strongly Buendia still identifies with the River, despite spending almost his entire professional career abroad.

The midfielder left Argentina as a teenager to join Getafe and later starred for Norwich City and eventually Aston Villa.

Europa League victory changed the picture

Emiliano Buendia’s future looked much less certain at the start of this season. Things were already complicated after recovering from a serious ACL injury a few years ago, while Villa’s squad depth was boosted again after a more aggressive recruitment effort.

Still, he ended the campaign on a high note. His performances in Europe ultimately helped Villa win silverware under Unai Emery, and it may yet influence the club’s thinking ahead of the summer window.

Villa also face a delicate contract situation. Buendia’s deal expires in June 2027, making his gains weaker with each passing month.

It explains why clubs abroad are already keeping a close eye, and attention is likely to increase if it becomes clear Villa are willing to negotiate.

The river’s dream has now come out in the open

Buendia also revealed that despite the time difference from England he still tries to follow River whenever possible.

“I don’t watch much Argentine football, mainly River,” he explained. “The schedules are tough but I try to keep up.”

He also shared memories of the 2018 Copa Libertadores final in Madrid. Buendia said he stayed in the same hotel with the River squad before the match and later met club icon Enzo Francescoli in the lift. At that time, according to Buendia, asking for photos became inevitable.

It is unclear whether Aston Villa will keep him forward this summer. However, Buendia has now made one thing absolutely clear – if he ever returns to Argentina, there is only one destination he really wants.

nottingham forest Preparations are already underway for a hostile environment in Portugal. However, the scale of the task against FC Porto far outweighs the pressure of the crowd.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s team will face a team with strong domestic and European form. Porto are currently leading the Portuguese league and have lost only once in their last 11 matches in all competitions. This fixture adds another layer to an already demanding Europa League quarter-final.

Nottingham Forest have shown resilience to reach this level. Still, this tie presents a different challenge. Porto combines pace, structure and experience, especially when playing at home.

Strong home record against English sides

FC Porto’s record against English clubs at the Estadio do Dragão highlights the size of the test awaiting Nottingham Forest.

according to to ballPorto has played 25 home matches against English opposition in European competitions. They have won nine, drawn nine and lost only seven. This is a solid record that shows how difficult it is for visiting teams to control matches in Porto.

Recent history supports that pattern. Porto drew 3–3 with Manchester United in a high-profile performance in October 2024. Earlier, he had secured a late win over Arsenal in the Champions League with a stoppage time goal.

So they are certainly a team that is comfortable dealing with top-class English opposition on home soil.

The context behind the Nottingham Forest meeting

There is also a layer of recent history between the two sides.

Nottingham Forest beat Porto 2–0 early in the competition, handing the Portuguese team their only defeat in Europe this season. That result came via two penalties that Diogo Costa could not save.

However, the context has changed since then. Porto are now in a stronger position domestically, and there is a clear sense of unfinished business in this regard. Furthermore, they there will be some reinforcements For this stability.

Porto manager Francesco Farioli knows it is a completely different scenario.

“When we played Nottingham before, it was Sean Dyche’s first game. I have positive memories of the game there. We conceded two penalty goals and played well throughout the game.” he said A recent press conference.

“But now we are talking about a completely different reality, a team that is in more positive form. Nottingham Forest have many strengths, including great wingers and very high-quality forwards. They also have strong midfielders and are dangerous at set pieces.”

He then concluded: “It is difficult to say which version of Nottingham suits us best, but what is certain is that we will have to do our best.”

It is also worth noting that this will be Nottingham Forest’s first match at the Estadio do Dragão. It adds an element of the unknown to the Premier League side.

more than just atmosphere

The focus has already been on the build-up Porto will bring intense supportBoth at home and outside. Their fans have sold out allocations and have formed a strong presence throughout the competition.

Yet the challenge for Nottingham Forest is wider. They will face a team that is leading their league, in form and is historically strong at home against English clubs.

Plus, this is a team that has already lost once this season and now has clear motivation to respond.

For Forest, it is about managing a complete test – tactical, emotional and physical – against one of the most consistent teams left in the competition.

That’s why this quarter-final feels particularly challenging. And that’s why Nottingham Forest will need one of their most controlled performances of the season to take something positive from Portugal.

Ipswich Town sent a scout to Denmark for FC Midtjylland’s Europa League defeat to Nottingham Forest on Thursday.

The Championship side are third in the table, level on points with fourth-placed Millwall.

Both clubs are two points behind second-placed Middlesbrough and Ipswich Town have a game in hand.

Kieran McKenna’s side are in the middle of a promotion battle while their scouts are busy identifying targets.

One of their officials was at the MCH Arena yesterday to follow the Danish club’s European tie against Nottingham Forest.

Despite leading 1–0 in the first leg, Midtjylland failed to overcome the Premier League team on home soil and lost the two-legged tie via penalty shootout.

The Superliga team only has domestic competition to focus on until the end of the season. Additionally, their players have attracted the attention of several European clubs.

Ipswich Town travel to Denmark again

There is interest in Kieran McKenna’s side, and campo Now cover the latest on them.

English clubs had an official in attendance and included Manchester United and Liverpool.

In addition to these three English clubs, scouts from Borussia Dortmund, Eintracht Frankfurt, Borussia Mönchengladbach and AS Monaco were also present. However, it does not specify the player.[s] Had an eye on these clubs

Dario Osorio has been attracting interest from top clubs for some time now. Earlier this week, Sport Witness broadcast news Liverpool and Arsenal are among the clubs looking to sign him.

Campeau has now added Borussia Dortmund to their list of suitors for the Chilean winger. Ipswich Town would find it difficult to compete with these clubs even in the event of promotion, but it is possible.

Ipswich Town could consider suitable signings

Midfielders Dan Neal and Wes Burns and fullbacks Ashley Young and Connor Townsend all have contracts expiring in June.

It might make sense for McKenna’s side to look at Midtjylland’s midfielders and/or fullbacks.

Below is a list of Midtjylland midfielders and their values. transfer market. This Ipswich Town deserves attention tried to sign Billing, before joining the Danish club last summer.

• Philip Billing, 29: €7 million
• Daniel Castillo, 21: €5.5 million
• Pedro Bravo, 21: €2.5 million
• Valdemar Bischof, 21: €2.5 million
• Almara Djabi, 19: €200k

fullback

• Victor Bak, 22, left-back: €3 million
• Paulinho, 31, left-back: €500k
• Kevin Mbabu, 30, right-back: €3 million
• Adam Gabriel, 24, right-back: €750k

🇩🇰Ben Godfrey | Players explain what went wrong at Sheffield United and Ipswich Town

➡️ The blades he had were blunt – which he respects
➡️ Other players feel assured of playing timehttps://t.co/3p0rMyIhtv #sufk #ITFC

– Sports Witness (@Sport_Witness) 6 March 2026

Newcastle United will have a scout ahead of Genk’s Europa League clash with Dinamo Zagreb in Belgium today.

he is According to SporzaJoe says Newcastle will be one of 23 scouts present for the game.

According to his information, ‘dozens of scouts’ from all over Europe will be present for the Europa League match. At least 23 people have registered for the game at Cegaica Arena.

The Premier League has strong representation, with Chelsea, Manchester United, Newcastle, Fulham, Manchester City, Aston Villa and Bournemouth all sending scouts.

The clubs have not made it clear who they are tracking. The obvious candidate would be Kos Karetsas, but he will be out of the match due to injury. Sport Witness covered a report last March detailing Newcastle’s interest in him.

Genk stars on Newcastle United radar

However, Sporza has named a number of options, stating that Zakaria El Ouhadi, Ymir Medina and Mats Smeets have attracted interest from several foreign clubs in recent weeks. It is unclear whether Newcastle is among them.

Another name could be Ibrahima Sori Bangoura. A report in May linked the Magpies with an interest in the midfielder.

On paper, Genk’s journey isn’t so surprising. They are a breeding ground for talent, having developed and sold a growing list of players over the past decade or more. In fact, he has made no less than €169m on transfers in the last five years alone.

The current crop is also earning praise for its performance. Many like Karetsas are already being linked with big money moves this summer.

It wouldn’t be a surprise for Newcastle to be added to the mix. In fact, targeting young players could be a smart strategy for Eddie Howe’s side moving forward while they remain restricted in the transfer window.

For now, it appears all eyes are on Genk and their clash with Zagreb tonight. It will be interesting to see who shines and who doesn’t in the presence of so many scouts.

Celtic’s Europa League hopes of returning could be dealt a blow, with VfB Stuttgart set to welcome back star Angelo Stiller.

This is according to BILD. The German newspaper today gives a positive update on the 24-year-old’s injury, at least from a German perspective.

Celtic head to Stuttgart on Thursday looking to reverse their 4-1 defeat last week. The German side dominated at Celtic Park in the first leg, with a clinical performance amid protests from the Celtic fans.

Why Celtic won’t find it easy

Sports witnesses have already covered their mindset before the second leg. head coach Sebastian Hoenes promises That they would be “prepared accordingly” despite their innate advantage.

One possible complication was Stiller’s injury. There were fears that he might have suffered a serious injury during the match played in Heidenheim on Sunday evening. But, an MRI scan on Monday evening confirmed that there was no problem.

In fact, it’s even possible that Stiller could return to the team for the second leg against Celtic on Thursday. However, the midfielder was not on the field for Tuesday’s training session.

Instead he completed an individual session. At this point, the assumption is that Hoehn would likely prefer to rest Stiller against Celtic. They have captain Atakan Karazor to replace Stiller in the interim.

facing celtic history

But still, having the 24-year-old available would be a big boost. And Celtic’s hopes of pulling off a Europa League miracle were dealt a blow.

Although Martin O’Neill’s side may not play as poorly as they did in the first leg, the trip to Germany will certainly not be easy. If they can come back, it would mean history in the making.

Neither team has successfully overturned a three-goal deficit from a 4–1 defeat in the first leg. Teams have come back from 3–0 or by different scores, but never 4–1.

In 2019 Eintracht Frankfurt had a team come close to recovering from a 4–1 defeat in the competition.

VfB Stuttgart are seeking Europa League glory in the hopes of keeping Jamie Lewelling out of Bournemouth’s hands this season.

This is according to Sportbild. The German newspaper covered the club today and revealed how they need money to help them retain their top players in the summer.

According to his information, there are many players in the current Stuttgart team who aspire to play at the international level.

This means the German club will face competition to retain him if they are not successful this season.

Champions League dream

They want to qualify for the Champions League and are in the race to do so. But with competition fierce for Bundesliga places, Stuttgart are also turning their attention to the Europa League.

Success in that tournament could help bring in around €34m of additional revenue.

This will help them a lot in the fight to retain people like Leveling. He has already been targeted by the Premier League. Nottingham Forest tried last summer, before Bournemouth put €40m on the table in the January transfer window.

Cherries reportedly view the 24-year-old as a potential replacement for Antoine Semenyo. He left to join Manchester City last month, and Bournemouth now have a significant gap to fill in their squad.

Bournemouth wants leveling

It appears Leveling is the man they feel can fill the gap and they were willing to spend big to secure his signature. Stuttgart and Lewelling ultimately thwarted his efforts.

But the former are expecting a ‘top offer’ again this summer. If they are in a position to reject them again, Champions League qualification or Europa League glory, which would also get them into the Champions League, may be necessary.

There’s certainly a hope for one or both of these guys if the season ends exceptionally well. If not, Bournemouth will once again be looking for money to spend on their star man.