Newcastle United had an interest in Benfica star Goncalo Ramos in the summer window after they saw first hand how good the 21-year-old was in their pre-season defeat in Lisbon.
Ramos sent a header flying past Nick Pope after just 15 minutes that night and in the bowels of the Stadium of Light, Eddie Howe was asked by Portuguese journalists if Ramos or any of his team-mates interested him. Howe did not deny that he admired some of Benfica's stars.
Howe said then: "I think it is a very strong and good league. Technically you could see from Benfica's style of play and the high technical style of their players in the Premier League.
