Manchester United are reportedly interested in signing 19-year-old Portuguese central defender Antonio Silva.
A report from 90min claims that Manchester United are now looking at central defensive reinforcements. And they have identified 19-year-old Benfica centre-back Antonio Silva as a possible target.
Manchester United defender Harry Maguire is close to leaving the club this summer, and he is likely to end up at West Ham United. The 30-year-old central defender has fallen down the pecking order at Old Trafford, and he needs to leave the club in order to play regular first-team football.
Maguire has failed to live up to the expectations since his big money moved to Manchester United. So it makes sense for the Red Devils to cash in on him. Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane are the only reliable central defenders at the club right now. Hence, Manchester United need to add more quality and depth to that position.
Signing another central defender should be a top priority for them before the summer transfer window closes. Several centre-backs, including Edmond Tapsoba, have thus emerged on their radar. And Silva would be a solid, long-term investment from Manchester United.
The 19-year-old has been linked with other Premier League clubs in recent months as well, and he is a prodigious talent with a big future ahead of him. Silva has all the attributes to develop into one of the best central defenders in Europe. And a move to Manchester United would be the ideal next step in his career.
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has a proven track record of improving young players, and he could help the 19-year-old fulfil his tremendous potential. It will be interesting to see if Manchester United can agree on a reasonable fee with Benfica. The Portuguese outfit have a reputation for being difficult negotiators, and they are likely to demand a premium for the talented young defender.
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Regular football in the Premier League could accelerate Silva’s development and help him improve as a player. A move to Manchester United would be a major step up for him but there is no doubt that the 19-year-old has the talent to adapt to English football and establish himself as an important first-team player for the Red Devils next season.
