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Man United have eyes on SL Benfica centre-back Antonio Silva, though they’ll face stiff competition to sign the defender.
It’s no surprise that Manchester United continue to be linked with a move to bring in a new central defender this summer. The Red Devils have struggled for any sort of consistency in that position, for pretty much the whole season.
Lisandro Martinez has been injured. Victor Lindelof has fallen out of favour. Jonny Evans is no spring chicken. United need someone reliable who can come in and start week-in-week-out. Preferably a younger player, too, as the Reds are somewhat old in that area of the pitch.
Several names have been linked with filling that void. Among them is Antonio Silva. The Portugal centre-back has been impressing for SL Benfica of late. Interest in him is growing.
Journalist Florian Plettenberg has provided the latest on that front, naming United as one of the clubs who are ‘keen’ on signing the 20-year-old defender. Bayern Munich are also credited with interest.
Silva has a £85m (€100m) release clause in his current contract, though in the event a summer transfer happens, it’s believed he’d cost somewhere around the £60m-£68m mark. Plettenberg believes Silva is a ‘player to watch’ for a potential transfer as we gear up towards the summer.
Check out Florian Plettenberg’s X post on Antonio Silva here:
Yes, FC Bayern have António #Silva on their list. But for quite some time now… Bayern is impressed by his development!
️ The 20 y/o center-back from SL Benfica has a release clause of around €100m in the summer. However, it is believed that in the event of a transfer, he… pic.twitter.com/7RmYem2e7r
— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) March 6, 2024
Silva would be close to the top of my personal wishlist for a new centre-back signing, along with Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite.
For me, it’s about that longevity. Silva could provide a decade worth of service, assuming all would go well for him here in Manchester. Yes, it’d be an expensive signing, but a necessary one. The gaffer isn’t fully keen on Lindelof. Raphael Varane will always pick up niggling injuries. You need someone reliable.
Silva would provide that youthful exuberance, while stylistically, he feels like the perfect partner for Licha Martinez. I fear that United will struggle to convince the player to make the move to Manchester this summer, though. There may well be no Champions League football on offer…
Do you think a Man United move to sign Antonio Silva would make sense? Let us know your thoughts in the comment box below.