Ten Primeira Liga stars from outside the Big Three who could be on the move this summer
The summer transfer market is scheduled to open in a matter of months, and here we take a look at a range of talents from outside the traditional Big Three in Portugal that could be set for a move elsewhere.
Ricardo Esgaio
Starting with one of the most well-known names on this list, Ricardo Esgaio has been an impressively consistent performer at Braga, his versatility down the right flank making him a tremendous acquisition by Braga, who brought in the 26-year old in 2017.
Naturally a right back but more than capable of playing in any position on that right hand side, be it a wingback or winger, Esgaio has been used predominantly as a full back, but has also been utilised further up the field, particularly in recent weeks, with Ruben Amorim opting for a 3-4-3 while at the helm of the club.
That’s testament to what the former Portugal U21 international offers both defensively and offensively, with the energy and commitment to regularly bomb up and down the wing.
With a decent turn of pace and a good cross on him from the byline, be it on the ground or in the air, Esgaio is a tremendous player to have on the overlap, and can add additional attacking potency from his deep starting position.
His defensive ability is to be expected, but his 7 assists across all competitions is good evidence as to what he can offer his side going forwards.
Where could he go? Wolverhampton Wanderers are, of course, one plausible suggestion; right wing back could certainly be a position Wolves will be looking to strengthen, and Esgaio would offer the type of consistency and reliability Nuno Espirito Santo looks for in his players.
Fabio Abreu
A matter of a couple of months ago, not many people would have been tipping Abreu to make a high profile move anytime soon, but his recent upsurge in form has ensured he's started to make a name for himself.
The 27-year old Angolan striker only had 1 goal in Moreirense’s first 11 league matches this season, but has since bagged 9 goals in the last 13 league games, including a goal in each of his last 6, and has proven to be something of a poacher in and around the opposition box.
With good strength, pace and clearly decent composure to boot, he has become a real handful for opposition defences, while his positional awareness means that often his goals come from close to the 6-yard box, be it from a header or tap in.
He certainly offers more than the standard goal poacher though, and is comfortable to drop deeper and link up with the players around him, and is good with the ball at his feet. His physicality also means he can hold up the ball effectively, making him an excellent option up front.
Clearly full of confidence right now, he has proven that when he’s enjoying his football, he can be an excellent asset to his side.
Where could he go? A move to a bigger Portuguese club is certainly plausible, the likes of Guimaraes and Braga surely monitoring the striker, who would be an excellent affordable option to bolster their attacking options. A side like Nottingham Forest have also proven that they are happy to dip into the Portuguese market.
Filipe Soares
Keeping with the theme of Moreirense players, Filipe Soares is another tremendous option for many clubs across the continent.
Moreirense pulled off quite the coup when they brought in the Benfica central midfielder on a permanent deal this summer, and the 20-year old has not let his side down.
Indeed, despite still being a young talent, Soares is already a crucial part of the team, having started all of Moreirense’s 24 league games this campaign.
The Portugal U21 international has shown strong attacking attributes, with great passing range and decision making both from deep and in the final third, and good attacking instincts too to not only create, but get into and convert goalscoring opportunities himself. A complete attacking midfielder, who Benfica will surely be keen on bringing back to the club.
Where could he go? Benfica is certainly a plausible option. He has been a revelation this season. The precedent is set too; Chiquinho was sold by Benfica to Moreirense last season and, after performing so well, was bought back by Benfica in the summer. Soares could follow in his footsteps. There will surely be plenty of competition for him, though.
Ryan Gauld
The Scottish attacking midfielder, who was predictably and lazily touted as the Scottish Messi by certain parts of the media early in his career, failed to live up to the lofty expectations during his time at Sporting CP, where he was hardly given any game time whatsoever and was loaned out season after season.
However, after taking the admirable decision to step down to the Portuguese second division to gain regular game time and revitalise his career, Gauld has finally started to show some of that flair and quality that originally caught Sporting’s eye, playing a key role in Farense’s promotion push.
His 8 goals and 3 assists this season, including 7 goals in his last 7 games and a stupendous hattrick versus Academico Viseo, have helped propel Farense to 2nd in the Segunda Liga, 6 points clear of nearest promotion contender Feirense.
Gauld could therefore be set for the Portuguese top flight next campaign - but could equally be moving elsewhere, either to a stronger Portuguese side, or to an outfit somewhere else in Europe. That he carries a 3 million euro release clause also makes him an even more desirable asset, and means any side willing to take a low-risk gamble on the 24-year old midfielder could end up with a real bargain on their hands.
Where could he go? A move to England certainly seems possible. A top-end Championship side would likely be very tempting for the player, and with such an afforable release clause, many will surely be paying close attention to the former Dundee United prospect.
Pedro Goncalves
A contender for Portuguese revelation of the season? Undoubtedly. Snapped up by a resurgent Famalicao from Wolverhampton Wanderers, he was part of some stunning summer recruitment by the Primeira Liga newcomers, and he has perhaps been their standout performer this campaign, which says a lot about his ability.
Possessing excellent passing and dribbling ability, he is the perfect central midfielder, and that he is still just 21 years of age makes him an even more exciting prospect.
Having played every single one of Famalicao’s 24 league games this campaign, even captaining the club on a handful of occasions, his direct and composed style has made him a commanding figure in midfield which far exceeds his physical height, and his passing ability has ensured that he is often central to Famalicao’s attacking creativity, as shown by his 8 assists and 6 goals across all competitions.
He was a scarcely-known figure in Portuguese football before this campaign, leaving Portugal for Spain when just 17 years of age, but after impressing for the Wolves youth team over the two previous seasons, he has really made a name for himself this campaign, and could be set for a big-money move this summer.
Where could he go? A return to Wolves, perhaps? Unlikely, though certainly something that could happen in the future. As a Jorge Mendes client, he has options on the table, with the Big Four in Portugal likely to be in contention to sign him. Braga would be an excellent option, able to offer considerable game time as well as representing a significant upgrade for the player. A return to Spain and Valencia, or another club of a similar stature, is also within the realms of possibility.
Fabio Martins
Martins is a teammate of Pedro Goncalves and, quite frankly, any one of Famalicao’s regular XI could have easily been included in this list, such is the impact this incredibly youthful Famalicao side have had on Portuguese football.
Martins, though, who is on loan at the club from Braga, is their talisman, their star, the man who, unlike his teammates, possesses both experience and reputation to go with his obvious ability.
The winger, who at 25 is virtually a veteran in a side made up predominantly of players significantly younger than himself, would have known the lofty ambitions of the club when he joined, and the substantial role he would have had to play to ensure their objectives were achieved, and he has simply thrived under the pressure of taking on such responsibility for his side.
His talent was already known in Portugal; his previous performances for Braga proved that he’s an incredibly accomplished, intelligent winger, and his dribbling prowess combined with a strong end product has played a major part in the feel-good story that is Famalicao’s performances this season.
Though their form has tailed off over the last few months, their start to the season means they still sit in a highly respectable 7th place with Europa League football in sight, and Martins’ 7 goals and 5 assists only tell part of the story of his spectacular impact at the club.
Where could he go? Anywhere, really. Braga may well look to keep him with Trincão heading to Barcelona next season, but with Martins preferring to play on the left wing, which Ricardo Horta has very much cemented himself, he may well need to leave to get regular game time in his favoured position. Interesting to see what happens.
Toni Borevkovic
Any club looking for a young, imposing, confident centreback who is not only good defensively but comfortable on the ball should look no further than Toni Borevkovic.
Now in his second season at Rio Ave, Borevkovic has established himself as a crucial first team player, undoubtedly one of the first names on Carlos Carvalhal's teamsheet.
The 22-year old Croatian has most of the attributes you look for in a defender; standing at 193cm tall, his aerial ability and physically likely speaks for itself, but that he is as assured as he is with the ball at his feet and when it comes to tackling and reading the game makes him a genuine contender to go onto great things. It's surely not long until he outgrows Rio Ave.
Where could he go? Again, quite literally anywhere. He's well suited to the English game, while Tapsoba's big money move from Guimarães to Bayer Leverkusen in January shows that top defensive talents outside the Big Three in Portuguese football can be snapped up by top foreign clubs, and Borevkovic could be the same.
Mehdi Taremi
Any sides out there looking for a high calibre striker for a reasonable price? Well, they shouldn't be looking much further than Rio Ave, the current home of Iranian ace Taremi.
The 27-year old, who has a good goalscoring record for his country with 15 goals in 38 caps, joined Rio Ave at the start of the season and has been the dominant striker they were hoping for.
With 11 goals across all competitions to his name already, Taremi has broken into double digits for the campaign with ten games to spare. When those games will be played, if they indeed are, is another matter, but he has proven that he's an accomplished striker.
Sporting fans may still wince at the sight of Taremi, after he won three penalties against the Lisbon outfit in their clash back in August, which ultimately earned Rio Ave a 2-3 victory.
Where could he go? A move to a lower level Premier league club seems plausible. A bottom half top tier team in an elite league seems like a good progression for him. Otherwise, he would serve as a great backup option for a higher level side - Wolves, for example, could be in the hunt for a solid backup option to Raul Jimenez, and with Rio Ave being one of Nuno Espirito Santo’s former clubs, he likely keeps a close eye on their performances and players.
Davidson
The Guimarães star is widely seen as one of the top talents outside the top four in the Portuguese game, and a move away seems like something of an inevitability.
His quick feet and crossing threat makes him a very useful winger, while his tenacity and work rate also ensures that he is constantly busy and full of energy, which is always appealling to supporters.
He’s also a calm finisher, occupying a more central position when the opportunity presents itself, and cuts inside from the left flank to have a go on his stronger right foot, often with great success.
His 10 goals and 11 assists across all competitions this season illustrates just how effective he is in the final third, and would be a great addition for any side.
Where could he go? Spain, England, France.… or perhaps he’ll follow in the footsteps of fellow Guimaraes star Toze and head to Asia, such as Qatar or Saudi Arabia.
Marcus Edwards
This one's for all the clubs out there in England - and in Germany too, who have generally recognised that high quality English talents are highly desirable assets and can often get sold for large sums of money if they live up to expectations.
And after impressing in Portugal with his attacking prowess and excellent dribbling ability from the flank, the former Tottenham player has made a name for himself in Portugal, and could well return to English shores sooner rather than later.
Where could he go? Many English clubs will surely be interested in his services; the level of club, however, is more difficult to predict. Don't rule out some Bundesliga clubs showing interest, either.
Mehdi Taremi. Photo author: Mehdi Bolourian. License link.
