English Premier League sides Southampton and Aston Villa sent scouts to watch Rio Ave defender Marcelo in action during a 1-0 win over Uniao de Madeira.
According to Portuguese sports daily A Bola, the Premier League duo sent scouts to the Estadio do Rio Ave to watch the Brazilian centre-back in action during the Portuguese Primeira Liga contest.
The 26-year-old defender has featured in 11 games for the Primeira Liga outfit, scoring two goals.
Rio Grande currently find themselves in sixth position in the league table, 19 points behind leaders Sporting Lisbon.
The Brazilian centre-back will require special dispensation from the English FA if he is to move to England at some point in the future, as the 26-year-old has not been capped by the Brazilian national team.
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The Premier League outfits will have to convince the Football Association that Marcelo is an exceptional talent for him to be granted a work permit, for which he currently does not qualify.
Southampton currently sit in 13th place in the league table and have failed to replicate their performances from last season, which saw them finish seventh in the Premier League.
Aston Villa find themselves at the bottom of the Premier League, having amassed only eight points from 20 games this season, and are odds-on favourites to be relegated.
