TBR Football can exclusively confirm Nottingham Forest and Leeds United were among the Premier League clubs who had scouts in attendance at Bayer Leverkusen’s friendly at Chelsea on Friday night.
Nottingham Forest have signed four players so far this summer and will be eager to strengthen their ranks further ahead of their return to European football.
Meanwhile, Leeds have made seven new signings as Daniel Farke looks to build a squad that can survive in their first season back in the Premier League.
Forest and Leeds were both eyeing one of Leverkusen’s starters on the night, though Brentford, Brighton & Hove Albion and Burnley also had representation at Stamford Bridge.
Photo by Ralf Ibing – firo sportphoto/Getty ImagesNathan Tella wanted by Nottingham Forest and Leeds
TBR Football understands that a number of Premier League clubs were at Stamford Bridge on Friday evening to check on former Southampton man Nathan Tella.
We understand that Tella is a target to make a possible return to England this month.
We can reveal that Leeds, Brentford, Nottingham Forest, Brighton and Burnley are amongst those keen and were all represented at the game on Friday.
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What Nathan Tella could bring to the Premier League as Moussa Diaby comparison made
Tella is a versatile 26-year-old footballer who can play on both flanks, at No. 10 and even up front, though most of his appearances have come on the right wing.
He spent time at Arsenal’s academy but made his breakthrough after joining Southampton’s youth setup, going on to make 44 senior appearances for the Saints.
Tella also took in a fruitful loan spell at Burnley in 2022/23, helping Vincent Kompany’s side finish top of the Championship with a 101-point tally.
The Bundesliga website previously likened Tella to Moussa Diaby, who played for Paris Saint-Germain, Leverkusen and Aston Villa before joining Al-Ittihad in 2024.
‘Although not a like-for-like replacement with Diaby in some regards – Tella being right-footed and the Frenchman a lefty – there are key similarities between the pair,’ they wrote.
‘Like his predecessor, Tella is a pacey winger who loves dribbling at his opponents and in 2022/23 finally paired his standout traits with a deadliness in front of goal which he previously hadn’t shown consistently.
‘Diaby also stepped up his game that season and, although you won’t see Tella cutting on his left from the right as much as the France international, he too can play all across the front line and will look to stretch defences by running in behind as much as possible.’
Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes told reporters when Tella joined: “We have gained a fast winger who can score, who brings experience with him but also has the potential to develop.”