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.
Greek club Olympiakos are interested in agreeing to a loan deal with Benfica for youngster Jota but the Greek side are said to not want a purchase option as part of the loan deal. Benfica who normally prefer that any of their player loans be negotiated with a purchase option, could insist that without the option included the deal will not move ahead. Benfica are said to be currently looking for a club where Jota can get regular playing time with the hopes that Jota's performance goes over well and that the club can cash out on the 21 year old. The 44 time Greek League champions are currently led by Portuguese manager Pedro Martins and also can count Ruben Semedo, Jose Sa and Cafu in their ranks of Portuguese players. Jota has appeared in 19 games for Benfica this season across all competitions and has scored twice while adding three helpers.
