Manchester United are actively pursuing the acquisition of another center back, with Antonio Silva emerging as a prime target after their interest in Leny Yoro.
According to the latest report from O Jogo, a respected Portuguese publication, United are now focused on Silva as negotiations for other defensive targets, Matthijs de Ligt from Bayern Munich and Jarrad Branthwaite from Everton, have encountered obstacles.
The report details that Bayern Munich is demanding €50 million for De Ligt, a fee that Manchester United is reluctant to meet. Meanwhile, Everton has repeatedly rejected United’s offers for Branthwaite, prompting the club to shift their attention to Silva.
Earlier in the summer, another Portuguese outlet, Correio da Manha, reported on United’s interest in Silva, stating that Benfica would only sell the defender if his €100 million (£84 million) release clause was triggered.
However, O Jogo now suggests that Manchester United are confident they can negotiate a more reasonable price for Silva, although the specifics of what constitutes an “affordable” deal remain unclear.
The club’s reluctance to pay £42 million for De Ligt and the rejection of their £50 million bid for Branthwaite indicate that they are carefully considering their budget for this transfer.
It’s also worth noting that United recently agreed on a deal worth £59 million to sign Leny Yoro from Lille, indicating their willingness to invest in strengthening their defense.
Antonio Silva, a key player for Benfica during their victorious Liga Nos campaign in the 2022-23 season, also represented Portugal in the recent European Championships, making two appearances. The question remains: how much are Manchester United willing to offer to secure Silva’s services?
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