Chelsea
Chelsea sent scouts to watch FC Porto against Nottingham Forest on Thursday, and they ended up seeing a game that underlined why the Portuguese side continue to attract serious market attention.
The 1-1 draw in the Europa League quarter-final first leg did not fully reflect the balance of chances. Porto were sharper for long stretches, especially before the break, and that gave watching clubs a strong read on players operating in a dominant setup.
As reported in Portugal by O Jogo and A Bola, Chelsea were one of several major sides in attendance at the Estádio do Dragão. Arsenal, PSG and Tottenham were also present, but the Blues had their own clear points of interest.
Also, club legend Thiago Silva was on the pitch. He played the whole 90 minutes and delivered a solid display against Premier League opposition, showing he never lost his quality even long after his Stamford Bridge days.
Chelsea see attacking duo impress
Gabri Veiga looked like the player setting the tone. The 23-year-old was constantly involved in Porto’s attacking sequences, receiving between the lines and moving the ball forward quickly.
He supplied the assist for the opening goal and ended the game with 26 completed passes from 29 attempts. Beyond the numbers, his influence came from how often attacks flowed through him. Everything seemed to pass through his feet in the first half.
Then there was William Gomes, who continues to build momentum at a rapid pace.Chelsea were already linked with him a couple of years ago, when he was still playing at São Paulo’s youth academy in Brazil.
Yesterday, the 20-year-old winger arrived at the far post to score Porto’s only goal and remained one of the most unpredictable players on the pitch.
His numbers backed that up – three shots, two successful dribbles and six duels won. More importantly, this was not a one-off. Gomes now has four goals in five matches and has reached 13 for the season, making him Porto’s second top scorer.
Chelsea have leaned heavily into recruiting young attackers with output. Both Veiga and Gomes fit that trajectory, albeit in different roles.
Situation in goal adds another layer
The match also offered a reminder of how volatile the goalkeeper position can be.
Diogo Costa had moments of uncertainty, particularly when coming off his line and when asked to distribute under pressure. At one point, he appeared to misjudge a situation that could have led to a major mistake, only for VAR to intervene and spare him.
Despite that, Costa’s overall reputation remains strong. Chelsea’s own goalkeeping situation has lacked stability at times, so it makes sense for them to keep tabs on options across Europe, even when performances are not flawless.
More names on the radar
Seko Fofana covered ground and drove transitions, showing why he is often described as a “complete” midfielder. Zaidu Sanusi also caught the eye with his ability to carry the ball down the left.
For Nottingham Forest, Stefan Ortega was arguably their most important player. The Manchester City loanee produced several saves to keep the score level and ensured the tie remains open heading into the second leg.
What Chelsea take from this
Chelsea’s presence in Porto underlines their ongoing search for talent across multiple positions. And this was not a quiet scouting trip. Blues’ scouts saw a team controlling phases, creating chances and relying on young players to deliver.
Gabri Veiga dictated, William Gomes produced, and Diogo Costa added a reminder that even top-level goalkeepers come with risk. For a club assessing multiple positions at once, that combination of impressions is exactly what these trips are for.