Manchester United are reportedly in the driving seat to secure the signature of Antonio Silva, a target for Liverpool and Real Madrid.
Premier League giants Manchester United are ahead of the curve in their pursuit of SL Benfica star Antonio Silva, whose star continues to soar in the footballing world. That is according to a report by Give Me Sport.
The Rise of Antonio Silva
The Portuguese sensation is a dominant presence in the Eagles’ defence and is arguably amongst the best players in his age group on the continent. Just 20, he is already a regular for the Benfica senior side and has also secured seven caps for the national side.
A solid passer and tackler, Silva exhibits an understanding of the game that belies his youthful self. Landing him will ensure the Red Devils can future-proof the position at the heart of their defence for the next decade. Given that a new centre-back will be on the agenda at Old Trafford in the summer, Silva appears to be one of the standout names on the list.
Silva High in Demand
According to GiveMeSport, Manchester United have kept tabs on the young defender, and their scouts have nothing but glowing reports to file on his potential. There is a general consensus around Old Trafford that Silva, who has a €100 million release clause in his Benfica contract, would be an invaluable addition to the current roster.
This is especially so given the uncertainty surrounding the future of Raphael Varane. The Frenchman’s deal at Old Trafford is up soon and he is yet to pen a fresh contract. Harry Maguire has fallen from grace while Lisandro Martinez has struggled with injuries. Signing Silva will certainly give Erik ten Hag a young dynamic defender to build his team around.
But it won’t be easy, with Liverpool and Real Madrid also keen. The Reds already have two solid centre-backs Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate. Joel Matip could be on his way out, but Jarell Quansah’s rise coupled with Joe Gomez’s return to form means the Reds do not need to splash the cash and can focus on other fields.
Real, on the other hand, have an eye on Kylian Mbappe. The Frenchman should move on a Bosman but the financial commitment needed to pay his wages and any signing-on fee would be considerable.
Manchester United can offer Silva more playing time than Liverpool or Real Madrid. But his release clause worth €100 million remains a contentious issue. Whether Erik ten Hag and Co. will choose to go all in or look at alternatives remains to be seen.
