According to The Mirror, Manchester United is showing interest in Benfica centre-back Antonio Silva.
Under manager Erik ten Hag, the Red Devils’ have limited options in defence with Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez, Victor Lindelof, and Harry Maguire. The English centre-back’s future is currently up in the air, and there are rumours that the hierarchy is ready to sell him next summer.
It is also said that in recent weeks, Portuguese players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes spoke highly of him around Old Trafford. Real Madrid and Barcelona are also keeping tabs on Silva, who is a member of Portugal’s World Cup team. His contract features a £57 million release clause that will be nullified in June 2027.
The 19-year-old earned his Benfica debut in August, and since then, he has drawn attention with his reliable defensive displays in all competitions.
He has made an average of 1.9 tackles and 1.7 interceptions in his 15 games. He has also won two aerial duels and averaged more than three clearances per game.
In addition to this, Silva has made an impression with his 91 per cent pass accuracy and three goals. So it comes as no surprise that he is generating a lot of curiosity. In order to get an edge over rivals like Real Madrid and Barcelona, United must start talks as soon as possible if they wish to pursue his services.
In the future, Silva has the potential to develop into a top-class centre-back. Given Varane’s history of injuries, the young player might eventually become a dependable starter for United.
