The stand-out Primeira Liga stars outside the Big Three that could be on the move this summer

Following Rodrigo Gomes’ move to Wolverhampton Wanderers, here we take a look at the other strong performers from outside the elite clubs in Portugal that have done enough to earn their own big-money moves this summer.

Gomes, who spent last season on loan at Estoril from SC Braga, impressed throughout the campaign, so much so that by January Wolves had already identified him as a key transfer target.

It is not all that common that players from outside Benfica, Porto and Sporting catch the eye of clubs from Europe’s elite leagues - despite the fact that there’s a wealth of talent up and down the Primeira Liga available for a fraction of the price that the traditional Big Three clubs would usually demand.

Wolves have done well in this regard; signing Toti Gomes and Chiquinho from Estoril in recent years represented shrewd, cheap signings, offering low risk, potentially high reward solutions. Both have proven good enough to play in the Premier League, and have allowed Wolves to save a large sum of money that they would otherwise have had to pay for talent from the likes of Benfica and Porto.

Samuel Lino is perhaps the biggest success story. Snapped up by Atletico Madrid from Gil Vicente, the versatile wide player was even named Atletico’s player of the season last term, which illustrates just how much talent can be unearthed in the lower regions of the Portuguese Primeira Liga.

So who else should be on the radar of Premier League clubs?

Francisco Moura (Famalicão)

You can’t really have a list like this without including the Famalicão left back. Moura has arguably been the best full back in the entire league this season, which is some achievement and testament to the consistent level he has managed to maintain.

The 24-year old made his loan move to Famalicão from SC Braga permanent in the summer, something of a coup for the club, and he has only gone from strength to strength. An impressive offensive player, the former Portugal U20 international is explosive on the overlap and has an excellent awareness and understanding of the game.

Quick and hard-working, Moura’s crossing and general passing ability makes him a real asset when given the license to roam, and he is just as suited to playing as a wingback as he is a full back. Having played the entirety of 33 out of 34 league matches this season, to say he was crucial to Famalicao would be an understatement.

He provided 4 assists last term - two being outstanding crosses, one being a perfect corner, and the other being a sensational down-the-line through ball from his own half. He is exceptional with the ball at his feet, and can often follow that up with exquisite end product.

Galatasaray have shown considerable interest, as have Wolverhampton Wanderers, and it is difficult to see him remaining at Famalicao for the upcoming season. Available for under 10 million euros, Moura offers insane value for money, and Premier League clubs should be taking a serious look at this gem. He has all that it takes to become a future Portugal international.

Jota Silva (Vitória de Guimarães)

But perhaps the most obvious talent is Vitoria Guimaraes’ Jota Silva, who amassed 11 league goals last season from 33 outings. Silva was integral to Vitoria’s impressive campaign. At one point, Silva’s side were even making a push to finish as high as 3rd in the league - above Porto and Braga - before their season unravelled slightly towards the end of the campaign.

Nevertheless, Silva was a remarkable asset last term, and his 6 assists to go with his 11 goals means that he was directly involved in just over 30% of all Guimaraes’ league goals in 2023-24, which is a frightening influence.

It is incredibly rare that a player from outside Portugal’s top 4 clubs gets a look-in for the national team. Jota, however, proved an exception, earning a stunning call-up in March for friendly fixtures against Sweden and Slovenia, and made cameo appearances in each of them.

Already on the radar of Roberto Martinez and the Portugal set-up, Silva, who is still just 24 years of age, has a burgeoning reputation, and will have plenty of suitors across the continent thanks to his direct dribbling style and sheer tenacity.

West Ham are the main candidates to secure his signature at this moment in time, prepared to trigger his 20 million euro release clause to prise him away from Guimaraes, while Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce are also incredibly keen to bring him in. Another player who is likely to be leaving Portugal this summer.

Ricardo Velho (Farense)

For a top-class goalkeeper available at an incredibly cheap price, look no further than Farense’s Ricardo Velho. Playing for a small club in a big league is a daunting prospect, but Velho’s heroics ensured that newly-promoted Farense not only survived, but thrived, in the Primeira Liga.

So good was the 25-year old Portuguese shot-stopper that not only did he win goalkeeper of the month on three separate occasions and get voted as Farense’s player of the year, but he was even named the overall Primeira Liga goalkeeper of the season, ahead of the likes of Porto’s Diogo Costa and Benfica’s Trubin. It is no surprise, of course. It was Velho who made the most saves all campaign - 143 - keeping 7 clean sheets in the process.

Velho produced some simply stunning saves throughout the season and was the reliable rock that allowed Farense to navigate an impressively smooth season, earning a 10th place finish.

There were plenty of calls for Velho to be included in the Portugal squad, such was the consistency and reliability he showed - and while he didn’t make the cut on this occasion, it would have been just reward for his stellar performances.

It is no wonder that the likes of Sevilla and Borussia Dortmund have been linked with a move for the Famalicão-born goalkeeper, though Watford are perhaps the club pushing hardest for his signature, which would represent an impressive coup for the Championship club.

Rafa Mújica (Arouca - already moved to Al Sadd)

For a sheer goalscorer, you couldn’t look beyond Rafa Mújica last season. Arouca had a season to remember, in which they scored 54 league goals in total, the highest number in the league outside of the Big Four in the country, securing a 7th place finish as a result.

A big part of their goalscoring output was the heroics of Mujica. The 25-year old had a decent breakout season at Arouca in 2022-23, scoring 8 goals in 27 outings. But in the most recent 2023-24 campaign, his goalscoring potential was taken to another level entirely. 20 goals in 30 league games made him the 3rd top scorer in the league, finding the back of the net more times than any Porto or Benfica player.

To have that sort of record while playing for Arouca is a remarkable feat, and the variety of goals he managed to produce was equally impressive. Headers, tap-ins, composed one-on-one finishes - the Spanish forward made a real name for himself, and has since earned a big 10 million euro move to Al Sadd.

Samuel Essende (Vizela)

With Mujica having already found a new club, it only seems right to choose an alternative striker option on this list, and who better than Samuel Essende? His output wasn’t quite as otherworldly as Mujica’s, but 15 goals in the league alone saw him average nearly a goal every other game and put him ahead of Porto’s Evanilson and Benfica’s Rafa Silva, and on par with Sporting’s Paulinho. All while playing for a team that ultimately suffered relegation.

So good wwere his individual efforts for Vizela despite their eventual demotion that he even earned a call-up to the DR Congo national team, and played the entirety of a 1-1 draw with Senegal in a World Cup qualifier earlier this month.

Standing a 6 foot 4, Essende is a powerful target man who offers a good deal of pace and the physicality to brush off opposition defenders, as shown in his goal against eventual champions Sporting CP in January and again against Rio Ave late on in the season. An assured finisher and commited striker, he is an incredibly well-rounded forward, and he is sure to be on the move this summer following Vizela’s descent to the second division.