Both clubs sent scouts to the Estádio do Dragão on Wednesday evening, where Porto ran out 4-1 winners in the Champions League.

It’s becoming quite a habit. This was Ipswich’s fourth known visit to the stadium this season, while Brentford have now been there at least three times.

And with the January transfer window getting closer, those repeated trips are becoming harder to ignore.

Brentford and Ipswich among European heavyweights

Portuguese newspaper A Bola reports that 14 clubs had representatives at the Dragão on Wednesday, including 12 from abroad.

Brentford and Ipswich were joined by Newcastle, Bayern Munich, AC Milan, Atlético Madrid, Atalanta, PSV Eindhoven and several others.

The two English clubs have been following Porto closely for a while. They were both present for the Champions League defeat to Manchester City in September. A few weeks later, they returned for Porto’s 3-1 victory over Benfica.

Now they’ve been spotted together again. It certainly looks like Porto have become a regular stop on their scouting schedule.

A Bola doesn’t identify the players either club went to watch, but Wednesday’s match provided plenty of interesting options.

Gabri Veiga and Kiwior steal the show

Gabri Veiga was probably the most eye-catching name on the pitch. The Spanish midfielder had already impressed when Brentford and Ipswich watched Porto beat Benfica in September. He scored that evening, and he was even better against Napoli.

This time Veiga provided the corner for Jan Bednarek’s opening goal after just 11 minutes. He then rattled the crossbar with a shot from distance before putting Porto back in front. A clever pass from Santiago Giménez sent him through, and he finished past Alex Meret.

It was a real MOTM performance. But Jakub Kiwior also gave the visiting scouts something to think about.

The former Arsenal defender played the full match, helped contain Napoli’s attack and scored Porto’s third goal with a header.

Kiwior is obviously no stranger to English football, so Brentford and Ipswich should already know plenty about him.

Another familiar face from their previous scouting trips was Martim Fernandes. The young Portuguese full-back started against Napoli and played 67 minutes before Francesco Farioli replaced him with Zaidu Sanusi.

He had a solid evening defensively, dealing well with Matteo Politano down his flank. It was another useful opportunity to assess him against Champions League opposition.

Plenty of other options on the pitch

Alberto Costa was another Porto player worth considering. The right-back completed the full 90 minutes and caused Napoli problems with his attacking runs.

There were interesting names on the Italian side too. Billy Gilmour, who previously played for Chelsea and Brighton, started in midfield and completed the match.

Then there’s Giovane, the 22-year-old Brazilian forward who joined Napoli from Hellas Verona earlier this year. He came on for Antonio Vergara in the 79th minute, so his opportunity to impress was fairly limited.

Of course, none of these players have been identified as targets for Brentford or Ipswich. They’re possibilities based on who was on the pitch, nothing more. What we do know is that both clubs keep turning up at the Dragão.

Whether they’re following one particular player or keeping tabs on several options, it’s a fair amount of homework for two clubs with January recruitment decisions approaching.

The post Brentford and Ipswich Town scouts back at Porto – Fourth visit for Tractor Boys appeared first on Sport Witness.

Sara joined the Turkish champions in August 2024 after spending two years at Norwich City. He has caught the Premier League’s attention, where Newcastle United and Everton are among his suitors.

Meanwhile, Brentford failed to take the 23-year-old away from the Portuguese club in the summer.

Newcastle United and Everton want Sara 

The Brazil international has 101 appearances for Galatasaray, managing 10 goals and 20 assists. This season, he has two goals and five assists in 14 matches.

Earlier this week, Sport Witness covered reports from Brazil explaining that Newcastle United, Everton, Aston Villa and Brighton & Hove Albion are in the picture to sign him. The Süper Lig winners are ready to let him leave in January for around €35m.

TuttoMercatoWeb covers Roma, the Magpies and Everton interest in the midfielder. The outlet says it’s their own updates about Gabriel Sara and Issa Doumbia. The Serie A side want a midfielder in the winter market and have identified the duo as targets.

The Giallorossi could consider making a concrete move to sign Sara in the coming weeks. Roma will face ‘fierce competition’ from Newcastle United, Everton and Napoli as the trio are also keen.

Matthias Jaissle’s side and the Toffees are making moves, and both are ‘ready to invest’ €25m to secure his services. Galatasaray’s demand, as per the earlier report, is €10m more than that.

Newcastle United and Brentford in mix for Doumbia

The 23-year-old Italian has enjoyed a good start since joining Sporting from Venezia in the summer. The Lions overcame Brentford and the Tyneside club to secure his services.

Last month, Sport Witness relayed news that Newcastle United haven’t given up on Issa Doumbia and Brentford are also pursuing the midfielder.

TMW now reports Roma are keen on bringing him back to Italy as early as January. That won’t be easy because he has a contract until 2031, and it has an €80m release clause.

Besides this, Newcastle United and Brentford are pursuing Doumbia, making it even more challenging for Roma.

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The Senegal international first arrived in England when West Ham United signed him from Slavia Prague in July 2025. Following the Hammers’ relegation to the Championship, he left them for Brentford towards the end of the summer window.

Diouf made seven appearances for Brentford, and that includes only one Premier League start so far. That isn’t stopping Chelsea and Liverpool from closely monitoring him.

Chelsea and Liverpool keen 

The 21-year-old has ended up on the Blues and the Merseyside club’s target list for next summer, and D Sports in Senegal cover the latest.

These two clubs are already showing interest in the Brentford summer signing. In fact, both Chelsea and Liverpool have already contacted the fullback’s agent to register their desire to secure his services.

There’s no mention of El Hadji Malick Diouf and/or Brentford’s stance on letting him leave, either in January or next summer.

He has a contract until 2031, with an option for another year. However, the report states that the player could ‘take on a new dimension sooner than expected’, meaning leave the Bees.

Transfermarkt value him at €35m, and Brentford paid around €47m to secure his services. Therefore, Chelsea and Liverpool will have to spend significantly more than this to acquire Diouf’s signature.

There’s a possibility his camp is leaking Chelsea and Liverpool’s approaches to put Keith Andrews under pressure to hand him more minutes.

Chelsea and Liverpool’s current options 

The west London club signed Pep Chavarría from Rayo Vallecano in the summer. He has been competing with Jorrel Hato for the left-back position.

Over at Anfield, Andoni Iraola has Milos Kerkez and Konstantinos Tsimikas as the two recognised left-backs. The Reds manager has also utilised youngster Luke Chambers once this season.

Tsimikas, 30, has a contract until the end of this season. If he leaves, the Brentford player can be an option for Liverpool next summer.

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The centre-back has recently spent five months out of action due to a groin injury picked up in July. That saw him miss 72 days in total, and seven games for Brentford.

It was the second longest spell out of his career to date. That record is currently 150 days due to torn ankle ligaments at Schalke.

He made his return earlier this month – ironically against former club Liverpool – playing 71 minutes in that 2-1 defeat before then playing 90 minutes against Hull City last weekend.

Netherlands plan

The plan is to now re-establish himself in Brentford’s defence after making 38 appearances in all competitions for the Bees last season. But his ambitions go beyond that. He’s also eyeing up a place in Xavi’s Netherland’s squad.

The defender is yet to make his debut for the senior Dutch side, despite playing for both the U19s and U21s. But he is hoping to change that soon.

“I want to make my debut for Oranje this season,” he said.

“That is my goal. If I play regularly here, I hope to receive an invitation from the new national team coach.”

Netherlands competition

Whether he can catch the eye of Xavi and his staff remains to be seen. The Netherlands coach is well stocked when it comes to centre-backs after all.

Among his current options are Virgil van Dijk, Jurriën Timber and Jan Paul van Hecke. Then there’s Tottenham’s Micky van de Ven, who many believe should be playing centre-back but has instead spent most of his international career as a left-back.

That’s four starters already, never mind some of the other options that Xavi can call upon should he wish. The competition for the Brentford man is fierce, to say the least.

For now, his focus needs to be on getting back to his best with the Bees. Then he can start to look beyond, with this next international break likely to be coming too soon for his ambitions.

The post “That is my goal” – Brentford star clear after overcoming injury issue appeared first on Sport Witness.

The Bees are still reaping the rewards of signing Michael Kayode from Fiorentina permanently in the summer of 2025. The right-back has become one of the best in his position in the Premier League, having now become a regular for the national team too.

Bournemouth, on the other hand, turned Dean Huijsen into a star in a quick space of time. The current Real Madrid player joined the Cherries from  Juventus, who had initially loaned him out to AS Roma.

More recently, Marco Rose’s side signed Michele Di Gregorio from Juventus and the Italian saw them pick up a 3-0 win over Juve last week.

Italy, as a result, has become a familiar hunting ground for both clubs. They could now go for the same player.

Defender close to Italy debut

Tuttomercatoweb note that the player in question is Fiorentina’s Eddy Kouadio, who is currently on loan at Monza. He is acquiring vital Serie A experience, having featured in eight league games,now also a regular for Ivan Juric’s side.

This led to him earning a call-up to the Italian national team during the international break. While he didn’t make his debut, things are looking up and that can come soon.

This has caught the attention of Bournemouth and Brentford, who are eyeing a move for the 20-year-old centre-back.

The report points out how the two clubs are always looking at the Italian market with attention. Kouadio, as a result, could be next in line to make the move.

Our take: Talent on the right track

The move to Monza could prove key in Kouadio’s career. He could’ve easily played regularly for Fiorentina but La Viola spent a big amount in the summer. This left him as someone who may not get game time, leaving Monza as a huge opportunity.

He has thrived in a back-three, operating on the right side of it regularly. While doing well on the ball, the talent is very good at recovery and uses his tall stature very effectively.

This can put him in good stead for English football, turning this into a transfer chance for Bournemouth and Brentford. Both clubs have dealt quite a good relationship with the Florence club too.

The Bees spoke to them for Kayode and the Cherries loaned out Alex Jimenez to La Viola in the summer. That can come in handy, if talks do take place.

The post Bournemouth and Brentford alive to new transfer opportunity from Italy – Player has Azzurri call-up appeared first on Sport Witness.

The 22-year-old joined Brentford on loan from Fiorentina in January 2025 and hasn’t looked back since.

In the near year and a half since, he’s established himself as one of the best in the Premier League but also Europe. The €18m Brentford paid to sign him permanently last year looks like a bargain.

He’s also now a fully fledged international, making his debut for Italy in September.

He’s already added three caps to his collection and is likely to add more in the coming weeks. It’s likely he’ll be in their squad during the next international break as well.

Brentford convinced quickly

It’s been a rapid rise for him since that original move to Brentford. And he admits that he owes everything to the Bees.

“If I hadn’t played for Brentford, I wouldn’t have made it to the national team,” he told Gazzetta dello Sport.

“I have to thank my teammates, the staff, and everyone around me. Brentford is a fantastic club—they welcomed me in an incredible way from the moment I arrived.

“I owe everything to them—including this opportunity to play for the national team.”

He was convinced about their greatness from the day that he arrived in 2025.

“Yes—I thought, ‘I’ve arrived at a truly great club’,” he added.

“They welcomed me in such an incredible way—something I honestly hadn’t expected, especially since I was going through a major life change, coming all the way from Italy.

“Now, I can truly say that Brentford has become like a family to me.”

Transfers dismissed

It is that relationship which means transfer talk is not on the agenda for the full-back. Reports this summer linked him to the likes of Inter Milan and Juventus.

Nothing come of such reports, though. Instead, he signed a new deal in July that ties him to Brentford until 2032. That was a sign of faith, but Kayode also insists he thinks the smartest move.

“I had already decided to stay and sign an extension before the season even ended,” he admitted.

“For my development, I believe that staying here and being with this group—just as I’ve done—is crucial. In fact, it has led to great things, such as a call-up to the national team.”

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That’s the opinion of former Morocco international Salaheddine Bassir. He believes that a quick jump to Chelsea is not the obvious answer for the 20-year-old.

Yassine is currently making waves in Ligue 1, with two goals and two assists in seven games for Strasbourg already.

That has quickly seen him linked with Chelsea, courtesy of the relationship the two clubs share. Sport Witness reported earlier this year that the Blues were already making moves for the youngster.

Bassir, though, believes such a move needs careful consideration.

“Choosing the right club can be more important than the transfer fee or the prestige of the jersey,” he told Africa Foot.

“The question isn’t just who wants to sign Gessime, but rather which club can provide the environment and tactical development he needs to reach his full potential.

“The Chelsea name alone doesn’t automatically make it the best choice. Competition for spots on the wings is particularly fierce there. At this stage of his career, Gessime needs consistency, confidence, and playing time to learn and grow.”

Brighton deserve attention

He would instead give serious credence to the likes of Brighton. They, after all, have a proven track record of developing young talent.

“If I had to compare Chelsea’s prestige to the opportunities for progression in a club like Brighton, I would seriously consider the second option,” he added.

“It is not a guarantee of success, but the choice must depend on the role offered to the player and his ability to win.

“A club that entrusts him with a precise offensive role and allows him to chain the matches can represent a better opportunity than a larger team that recruits him only for the future.

“In his place, I would not rule out Chelsea, but I would not sign simply because it is Chelsea. I would try to know my role, the players who play in my position and the plan for my integration into the first team.”

Newcastle pitch

What about the rest of the interested parties? Newcastle, Brentford, Sunderland, Everton and Nottingham Forest have all been credited with an interest at this point.

Bassir is interested in the former, but only if they can guarantee Yassine the regular playing time that he’s getting at Strasbourg.

“If Newcastle foresees a role corresponding to his qualities, this destination could allow him to take a step forward,” he insisted.

“But if Gessime finds himself relegated to the offensive hierarchy, staying in Strasbourg for an additional season could be more beneficial.” He insists that any transfer has to be the one that needs to offer progress.

“The best transfer for Gessime will be the one that will allow him to progress while playing regularly,” he concluded.

“Chelsea can be a gateway to a higher level, but another club can offer them a more direct path to Premier League confirmation. Great players are built not only thanks to the prestige of a jersey, but by work, confidence and good sports choices.”

That, then, is the pitch that the interested parties need to make. It will be up to Chelsea, Brighton, Newcastle, Brentford, Sunderland, Everton and Nottingham Forest to do that should they make moves in the near future.

The post Chelsea name alone not enough for player – Transfer to Newcastle United on agenda appeared first on Sport Witness.

Schade has started the season on fire for the Bees, bagging three goals in six games in the Premier League so far.

The 24-year-old was also a part of Jurgen Klopp’s first Germany squad, playing against the Netherlands and Greece before the squad split for the games against Serbia and then Greece again.

His star is very much on the rise. And that has, reportedly, led to growing interest in Europe.

Brentford star wanted

Sky Germany even go as far as to say he’s one of the ‘most sought-after’ German players currently playing abroad. Following his strong start to the season and his international call-up, several top clubs have set their sights on the 24-year-old.

He has even attracted the attention of several elite European clubs. Indeed, Sky report that Schade is being closely monitored by several top clubs. More importantly, a move in the January transfer window is a distinct possibility.

But any deal would be on Brentford’s terms. They are under no financial pressure to sell. Nor do they need to part with the attacker for any reason in the short-term. And they are protected by the winger being tied down to a deal until 2028.

Kevin Schade

First-team club career stats

Club	Apps	Goals	Assists
SC Freiburg 2021–2023	36	7	1
Brentford 2023–present	120	25	8
First-team career total	156	32	9

All competitive first-team club matches, including domestic cups
and UEFA Europa League.
Brentford loan and permanent spells combined.
Excludes Freiburg II, youth football, internationals and friendlies.
Source: Opta Analyst. Checked: 13 October 2026.

€70m asking price

Consequently, their asking price is high. They are currently demanding more than €70m in the January transfer window alone. The hope, clearly, is that such a big asking price is enough to ward off any interest from clubs who are capable of paying it in January.

For reference, Schade is currently rated at €50m by the likes of Transfermarkt. So, it also €20m over that valuation. That will also make big clubs think twice before making a move.

Either way, Brentford aren’t playing. They’re aware of the growing interest but don’t appear to have even the slightest interest in entertaining it.

The post Brentford slap €70m price tag on star amid ‘no shortage of interested parties’ appeared first on Sport Witness.

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The 19-year-old has just returned from his first senior international break with Brazil. He’s come back with two caps, a first start and an even bigger profile than he had before leaving – which could help in an eventual Premier League move.

Now Tottenham already have Barcelona and several Premier League clubs for company. And there’s interest from Saudi Arabia as well.

Premier League still the preference

Brazilian insider outlets Três Pontos and Trétis reported that Saudi Arabian clubs have contacted Arthur’s representatives to ask about his situation.

There’s no proposal yet, and the player’s plans could make that route difficult anyway.

Arthur currently wants to continue his career in Europe. Better still for Tottenham, the Premier League is said to be the destination which appeals to him most.

Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest and Brentford have also shown interest during the season. Spurs, though, have gone further than their Premier League rivals. As we already covered, they offered €21m (£18.2m) for 80% of Arthur’s rights earlier this year.

That was rejected and Athletico continue to work with a minimum price of €30m (£26m).

Barcelona provide another complication. Sport have made their strong interest clear and the Catalan media followed Arthur’s first Brazil call-up particularly closely.

Also, it’s worth recalling Barcelona sent scouting chief João Amaral to watch him against Bahia last month. So this is becoming quite a collection of clubs around the youngster.

Arthur returns with two Brazil caps

His first spell under Carlo Ancelotti certainly didn’t hurt the growing attention. Arthur started on the bench for Brazil’s first game against Australia. He then made his senior debut in the second meeting, getting eight minutes of the 4-2 victory.

The bigger opportunity came against India. Ancelotti handed the Tottenham target his first international start. Arthur played 61 minutes and Brazil won 4-0.

On top of that, Arthur received praise from Ancelotti during his time with the national team.

“I really liked Arthur Dias, whom I didn’t know”, said Ancelotti. “I’m getting to know these players much better. And Arthur was good. We have a future, despite the criticism”.

Well, Athletico don’t appear to be in any rush. Arthur is contracted until December 2028 and their €30m (£26m) asking price remains in place. But he is on his way to having a very busy summer next year.

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