Scouts in attendance as Gustavo Sa shines against Sporting
Scouts from across Europe were present at Famalicao vs Sporting on Saturday, and many of them left impressed by one man: Gustavo Sa. The 20-year-old Portuguese midfielder delivered a standout performance, scoring a goal with 100% shooting accuracy, solid passing (72%) and important defensive contributions.
Sa, a product of both Porto’s and Famalicao’s youth academies, made his senior debut in 2022 and has quickly grown into a key player for Famalicao.
Standing at 1.89m, he combines technical ability with strong physical presence - a mix that is rare to find in young midfielders. Naturally an offensive midfielder, Sa has recently shown his adaptability by playing as a mezzala for Portugal’s U21 side, even providing an assist against Azerbaijan during the European qualifications.
His game is built on vision, composure, and versatility, but he also poses a real threat in aerial duels and on set pieces. Clubs are now paying close attention. His consistency in Liga Portugal, added to his ability to perform in different roles, makes him one of the most promising talents in his age group. With European scouts already circling, Gustavo Sa looks set to become one of the next Portuguese midfielders to make the leap to a top league.
Lyon are monitoring Manchester City talent Nico O’Reilly
Lyon have informed both Manchester City and the player’s entourage of their strong interest in Nico O’Reilly. The French club has been following the young midfielder closely and is expected to continue monitoring him over the coming weeks.
Sources suggest Lyon could even make an early move in January to get ahead of the competition. For now, Chelsea and Bayer Leverkusen are the main rivals in the race for O’Reilly, with several other clubs also keeping an eye on his development.
The 20-year-old remains highly rated inside Manchester City, who still see him as an important part of their long-term plans.
However, O'Reilly's situation is still open. So far this season, he has only played in the Manchester derby from the first minute on Sunday and was fielded in the final twenty minutes against Brighton and Wolves.
While that shows he is slowly entering Pep Guardiola's rotation, the midfielder knows he needs more consistent playing time to grow. City hope to keep him, but Lyon’s interest is serious and could become concrete in the next transfer window. With Chelsea and Leverkusen already exploring options, O’Reilly’s future promises to be one of the stories to watch in the coming months.
Marcos Leonardo devastated after failed Sao Paulo move
Sao Paulo fought until the very last hours of the Brazilian transfer window in their attempt to bring Marcos Leonardo home, but in the end, the deal collapsed. The 22-year-old Al Hilal striker had already given his full approval to the move and even rejected other opportunities because he only wanted Sao Paulo.
The club’s plan was a loan until the end of the year. However, Al Hilal requested €2m for the loan fee plus a contribution to the player’s salary. For Sao Paulo, those numbers were simply out of reach.
Despite the forward’s strong desire to make the switch, the financial gap proved too difficult to close. Leonardo even offered to cut his salary dramatically to facilitate the transfer. Still, the figures remained too high for Sao Paulo.
Sources close to the player revealed he was 'devastated' after the collapse of negotiations. For Leonardo, this was more than a career move; it was a chance to play for the club of his childhood dreams, even though he came through the Santos academy.
For now, the deal is dead. But the story of Marcos Leonardo and Sao Paulo may not be over yet, with both sides hoping for another chance in the future, during the next transfer session.
Tottenham and Inter eye January move for Malik Fofana
Malik Fofana continues to attract strong interest across Europe, with January already shaping up as a crucial moment for his future. Tottenham made a late push to sign the Belgian forward on deadline day, but their attempt was rejected by Lyon, who had no time to secure a replacement.
Spurs still view Fofana as a key target and are considering a fresh approach once the market reopens. Inter are also in the race. The Italian club sees Fofana as one of their top attacking targets and have already held internal discussions about him.
However, cost remains a real obstacle. Lyon are not under pressure to sell and have made it clear that they want at least €50m, backed by a contract running until 2028.
The English competition will also be fierce. Several Premier League clubs that already tracked Fofana earlier in the summer are expected to monitor him closely in the coming months. Lyon know they hold a valuable asset and will use the next months to strengthen their position ahead of what could become one of the big stories of the January transfer window.
Bremer and Juventus’ defensive wall
Gleison Bremer has become a true pillar of Juventus’ backline, and the numbers speak louder than words. Over the last eight matches the Brazilian defender has played, Juventus have not conceded a single goal. At 28, Bremer is proving once again why he is considered one of the most reliable centre-backs in Serie A.
Since joining Juventus in the summer of 2022, Bremer has made 94 appearances. In those games, the Bianconeri have kept 46 clean sheets - almost one out of every two matches.
That’s a 49% shutout rate, a figure that underlines his decisive impact. By contrast, in the 63 matches Juventus played without him, the team managed just 21 clean sheets, dropping the percentage to 33%.
This huge difference shows why Bremer is more than just a regular starter: he is a key factor in Juventus’ defensive strength. With him on the pitch, the team almost doubles their chances of finishing a game without conceding. Interest in Bremer from Europe’s top clubs has never really gone away.
Liverpool were very close to him in the 2024 preseason before choosing a different path. Now, as Bremer quickly returns to top form after injury, Premier League top teams and leading clubs across Europe are once again watching him with great attention.