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The transfer window may be shut, but scouts from Europe’s top divisions continue their search for potential transfer targets to bolster their respective sides in the coming seasons.

Notably, Leicester City scouts are understood to have travelled to Portugal on Saturday to attend Benfica vs Porto where they witnessed the away side seal an impressive 2-0 victory.

Whilst the Portuguese league does have some huge clubs with great players from abroad, it is better considered as a hotbed for producing quality players from a younger age and boasts a lot of top of the range academies. This is often why the national side has standout competitive sides at almost all age groups.

Most clubs in the country also possess ‘B’ sides within their respective football pyramid. This means budding stars are bestowed an environment in which they can adjust from youth level to senior level in a much less gritty manner than what players from within the UK will experience. This often aids their transition into the first team.

But who could the Foxes scouts have had their eye on in their latest trip to the Iberian nation?

Ruben Dias

Age: 22

Club: Benfica

Position: Central defender

Despite his slim build and age, Dias is a robust defender that already possesses good strength helping him to overcome more experienced opposition attackers in defensive duels.

He combines that physical prowess with a high footballing IQ, rarely lunging into rash challenges resulting in fouls or allowing opportunities for attackers to bypass him in one on one duels - last season he won 64 percent of his duels defensive duels and averaged four interceptions per 90 minutes.

Standing at 6ft 1in, he is decent if unremarkable in the air, winning 52 percent of his aerial duels, however he is often a threat from set-pieces, managing four goals last term.

His 'x-factor' comes in his ability with the ball at his feet, much like for City defender Harry Maguire. He had a pass success rate of 89 percent last season. Not just capable of short and side to side passes, he always had an impressive success rate of 51 percent in terms of his long passes forward.

Dias ticks all the boxes and is set for a bright future.

(Image: Miguel Riopa/AFP/Getty Images)

Alex Telles

Age: 26

Club: Porto

Position: Left-back

A move to Atletico Madrid looked to be on the cards for the Porto man this summer, but no deal could be agreed between the clubs. Even so, it’s easy to see why he was attracting the attention of one of the biggest clubs in Europe after managing 12 assists for his side last season - no player at Porto managed more.

Although a more than competent defender, Porto are heavily reliant on building attacks down their wide areas, and this is where Telles tends to shine. He boasts good stamina allowing him to get up and down the flank adequately over the course of a 90 minute match.

When inside the final third, he possesses good final ball delivery which goes a long way to explaining his impressive assists total from last season.

The 26-year-old averaged 4.8 cross per 90 minutes last season with an impressive success rate of 36 percent. He also averaged four passes into the penalty area with a success rate 46 percent. Porto will do well to hold onto him beyond this season.

Álex Grimaldo

Age: 23

Club: Benfica

Position: Left-back

Another wing-back on the list perhaps highlights just how important the role has become in recent years within football. Often top teams will rely on a strong physical full-back who is capable of driving forward with the ball and progressing a team from their defensive third into the attacking third quickly.

Although only 23, Grimaldo has proven his proficiency in doing the same and is now one of Benfica’s most important attacking outlets, along with right-sided counterpart Andre Almeida.

Grimaldo is a great runner with the ball at his feet and was averaging 2.4 progressive runs last season. When in the attacking third, he boasts an ability to play a range of different passes into the box leading to big chances created for his side.

As a result, he managed 12 league assists last season, the joint third highest return in the division. Notably, his team-mate Almedia managed 11 and ranked fourth.

Overall, it is fair to say the wing-back positions are certainly an area Benfica are blessed in.

(Image: Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)

Florentino Luis

Age: 20

Club: Benfica

Position: Central midfield

The youngster started last season with Benfica’s ‘B’ side, however he was promoted to the first team following the arrival of Bruno Lage in January. Since then, he has hardly put a foot wrong.

From the centre of midfield, Luis is another youngster illustrating a high footballing IQ which sees him position himself intelligently to give himself the best platform to breakdown opposition attacks. His powers of anticipation may sometimes seem as a result of fortune, but he actually tends to read attacking movements well. As a result he averaged 4.6 interceptions per 90 minutes last season and made an average of 12 possession recoveries per 90 minutes.

He boasts good pace which makes him a competent presser of the ball, utilising his quick acceleration to pressure an opponent before they have a moment to settle on the ball.

The 20-year-old had a very good pass success rate of over 91 percent last season and tends to focus his passing in line with tactical instructions. As he is often the deepest midfielder on the pitch, he doesn’t offer much attacking threat, but he is still very much an exciting talent.

Haris Seferović

Age: 27

Club: Benfica

Position: Striker

Strikers are always in demand, and in Seferović, Benfica have a very good one. He netted a stunning 26 goals last season on his way to securing the Portuguese Golden Boot.

At 6ft 2in, he is an obvious aerial threat and causes defensive lines plenty of problems throughout the course of a 90 minute match. However, just three of his league goals came with his head last season, illustrating his underrated ability on the floor. He links up well with team-mates around him and tends to come alive inside the penalty area.

Last season, he was averaging just short of three shots per 90 minutes with over half of those shots at least forcing the keeper into a save.

Still in his prime, it’s easy to see why some of the top clubs in Europe are keen to acquire his signature.