Stuttgart and Juventus add new faces for Europa League challenge
Published:The Europa League could prove wide open this year and some of the leading contenders have further strengthened their squads in order to challenge for the European crown and domestically to enhance their chances of reaching the Champions League next season.
Stuttgart are 25/1 to win the Europa League and remained busy on the final day of the transfer window by bringing in two new faces.
Mauro Camoranesi signed a 12-month contract after calling time on his eight years at Europa League rivals Juventus, while Mamadou Bah arrives for an undisclosed fee from Strasbourg and will be tied to the club until 2013.
Juventus responded to losing Camoranesi by completing two purchases of their own, with both Armand Traore and Leandro Rinaudo arriving on loan.
Traore has signed from Arsenal, while Rinaudo moves across Italy from Napoli as Juventus look to defy odds of 14/1 to win the Europa League this season.
They are 11/8 to finish at the head of Group A after being drawn alongside Manchester City, Red Bull Salzburg and Lech Poznan.
Borussia Dortmund are other leading contenders at 16/1 and opted for experience by acquiring Brazilian Antonio da Silva from Karlsruher on a free transfer.
The French contenders were also busy as Paris St Germain signed left-back Siaka Tiene from Valenciennes on a three-year deal, while former PSG defender David Rozehnal returns to France with Lille on loan after a spell at Hamburg.
Elsewhere, former West Brom forward Andwele Slory has agreed terms at Levski Sofia and another player with connections to English football, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, has signed a two-year deal with Rapid Vienna.
Manchester City and Liverpool are at the head of the betting to win the Europa League. See the entire market.
