Manchester United have placed SL Benfica academy graduate - and now a full-fledged Portugal international - Antonio Silva high among their list of targets for the centreback position, says Sky Germany's Florian Plettenberg. Silva, who turns 21 next year, is a summer target for the Red Devils and will be avaiable for a EUR 100 million fee once his release clause kicks in. (Football News)
Benfica, says the report, are already preparing for the youngster's departure despite him being contracted to the club until, at least, 2027.
Born in 2003, Silva spent six years of his adolescent life in the famed SL Benfica academy before breaking through into the first team. A UEFA Youth League winner in 2021/22, Silva made 44 appearances for the Portuguese giants in his first full season and is on track to surpass that mark in his second year at the time of writing. The 20-year-old is also a regular for Portugal at international level; having debuted in 2022, he has made seven appearances so far and is destined to be a starter at the 2024 European Championship.
Silva, though, is not the only centreback on Manchester United's wishlist. According to Fabrizio Romano, the Red Devils are also keeping tabs on OGC Nice's Jean-Clair Todibo and Bayer Leverkusen's Edmond Tapsoba with a view toward strengthening their defense in the upcoming summer transfer window.
