Benfica are one of various clubs that's name has been linked to Barcelona owned right back Emerson. The 21 year old has been loaned to Spanish side Real Betis until the summer of 2021 but Barcelona have the option of bringing him back after this season and they could bring him back to sell him to the highest bidder. Benfica are said to be in competition with Inter Milan and Bayer Leverkusen for the services of the Brazilian with Barcelona looking at receiving between €20M-€30M to move him. Emerson has appeared in 23 La Liga games for Betis this season, scoring three goals while setting up another five. Benfica are looking for a right back to battle with current number one Andre Almeida who has gone through injury trouble the past two seasons and feel that Emerson would be a suitable replacement to the Portuguese right back.
Nottingham Forest will return midfielder Alfa Semedo back to Benfica after the end of his loan spell this season. Semedo who joined Nottingham at the start of the season in the English Championship had a bright start with the club but his play quickly dwindled off and although the 22 year olds loan did not include a buy out clause it was unlikely that Nottingham would have triggered it if it did. Semedo has appeared in 23 games across all competitions for Forest, scoring twice with his last goal coming against QPR in late November. Semedo who joined Benfica in the summer of 2018 has spent the last season and a half away on loans as he previously spent half a season with Spanish side Espanyol in the second half of 2019.
Benfica players are set to return back to training in Seixal tomorrow as the club prepares for the potential re-start of league at the end of the month. Benfica have already tested their players last Tuesday for COVID-19 and their practice will be divided into two sessions with the club separating players into group of fours during these sessions. Benfica currently trail FC Porto by one point in the race for the league title with ten games remaining in the season, how the games will be completed are still unknown as the league decides if it is the best interest of all clubs to play out of remote locations.
