I would love to play at Old Trafford – Man Utd ‘Well Prepared’ to Sign £80m Benfica star after surprise transfer message

I would love to play at Old Trafford – Man Utd ‘Well Prepared’ to Sign £80m Benfica star after surprise transfer message

Manchester United have Benfica star Antonio Silva on their shortlist, and he isn’t the only young defender by targeted by Premier League clubs.

Everton prospect Jarrad Branthwaite has caught the eye of Man United and Chelsea with the latter looking for a Thiago Silva replacement.

A shiny new centre-back is going to be a must-have trend of the next summer transfer window.

Antonio Silva
He’s being tipped as the gold-standard central defender of the coming years, with former Tottenham Hotspur defender Jan Vertonghen telling the Portuguese press previously he has the quality to become one of the best in the world. If you are going to sign a new man at the back, this is the one you want.

The main sticking point for any club will be that he has a huge release clause at Benfica of €100m (£85m).

But this is a summer in which he probably will move and his characteristics make him a great fit for the Premier League.

His rise has been incredible as he was only promoted to Benfica’s first-team last season but he is strong, brave, and has a reading of the game well beyond his 20 years.

In England it has been Liverpool and Man United most hot on his talent over the past 12 months but Chelsea have begun to pay close attention, too, more recently.

Real Madrid and Bayern Munich admire him greatly and Borussia Dortmund and Napoli have also tried to make in-roads as he looks to plan his pathway in the game.

Man United are most well-prepared to sign him as of this moment in terms of scouting reports and having a place in the squad opening up.

But that price-point is going to be tough to deal with at a time when they want four other signings too.