The seven Porto stars whose contracts expire in just 18 months

Teams across Europe may well be set for a big summer discount when shopping in Portugal at the end of the season, with no fewer than seven first-team Porto players edging closer to their contract expiry.

It was a similar story for Porto last summer, when they saw the long-serving duo of Yacine Brahimi and captain Hector Herrera leave the club for absolutely nothing in July 2019, among others.

Porto, therefore, may have learnt their lesson of letting players enter the final year of their contracts, and may look to sell those that are reluctant to renew.

One player whose contract comes to an end in July 2021 is Alex Telles. The Brazilian left back has been a tremendous asset to the club, a regular and consistent performer from the moment he arrived, and his strong defensive and offensive ability could make him a man in demand come August this year.

Moussa Marega, who was an excellent performer in the Champions League last season as Porto reached the quarter finals, is another player who may well be leaving Porto sooner rather than later if he too declines the opportunity to sign a new contract with the club.

Although he has failed to match his performance levels this season, and hasn't had as much of a goalscoring impact for the club, his pace, power and general proven goalscoring prowess when in top form will have earned him many admirers across the continent.

Marega isn't the only striker whose contract is up in 18 months though, with the equally dominant Tiquinho Soares also set to leave the club in July 2021 if he doesn't sign a new contract in the coming months.

The Brazilian striker has been in decent form this season in a Porto team whose strikers haven't been as clinical as you would expect, and you can imagine that a striker with his presence is exactly what many clubs will be looking for.

And that's not the end of Porto's potential attacking worries, with Vincent Aboubakar also closing in on his contract expiration. The Cameroon international has struggled with injury over the last year, seriously reducing his game time, but those that know Aboubakar will be aware that when fit and firing, he's an excellent option up front.

Veteran centreback Pepe, who has been almost ever-present for Porto this season bar the occasional absence through injury, is also set to leave the club in 2021, by which time he will be 38. Could he have one last move before hanging up his boots?

Another regular this season whose contract runs out in 18 months is the versatile Otavio, who has missed just one league match all season and has started all six of Porto's Europa League matches so far. Still only 24, he could be a very shrewd acquisition for many a side.

Sergio Oliveira, who was linked to Nottingham Forest earlier this window, is another who will be free to talk to other clubs in a year's time should he not renew before then. The Portugal international is a highly talented player, but has struggled for game time at Porto due to the amount of competition in midfield.

Alex Telles. Photo author: Антон Зайцев. License link.