POSH LATEST: The big boys are watching Big Rico

Ricardo Santos in action for Posh against West Brom at the Hawthorns. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.

The 20-year-old has won plenty of top-flight admirers during his 60 Posh appearances following a move from non-league Thurrock in January, 2014.

The Portuguese-born 6ft 5ins centre-back had previously been on the staff at Dagenham & Redbridge.

Santos was suspended from Wednesday’s (February 10) FA Cup tie with West Brom, but before the game Posh manager Graham Westley said: “Premier League teams are watching Ricardo and it won’t be long before they come knocking at our door.”

Santos has quickly become something of a ‘Marmite’ figure among the Posh fan base, but club chairman Darragh MacAnthony is a huge fan of his player.

In the summer MacAnthony revealed he had taken a phone call from a representative of Benfica, one of the top sides in Portugal.