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Manchester United are reportedly main the race to signal Benfica’s highly-rated defender Antonio Silva because the membership begins finalising their summer season switch plans.
Deployed on the coronary heart of Roger Schmidt’s defence, Dean Jones (givemesport.com) reveals Silva’s performances have attracted the eye of Europe’s main golf equipment, with Liverpool and Chelsea becoming a member of Actual Madrid, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, and Napoli within the hunt for the 20-year-old.
Nonetheless, Jones contends it’s United who’re “most well-placed” to win this race, with in depth scouting stories compiled on the defender and a transparent want for reinforcements on the coronary heart of Erik ten Hag’s defence. This corroborates a report relayed by The Peoples Particular person earlier within the season, which revealed Silva to be the membership’s “prime goal” this summer season.
Whereas Lisandro Martinez has struggled enormously with accidents this season – as have his teammates in his absence – he stays United’s first-choice central defender. The selection to play alongside the Argentine is much less clear, nevertheless.
Raphael Varane has impressed in current months after showing to have fallen out of favour beneath Ten Hag earlier within the season, however the Frenchman’s deal expires on the finish of the season given Outdated Trafford officers selected to not activate an computerized one-year extension in December.
It’s believed each events are persevering with to barter the potential of a brand new deal on lowered wages, however there was no indication of an settlement on this. Varane’s age and susceptibility to damage at this stage of his profession are worries for United shifting ahead.
Equally, doubts proceed over Harry Maguire who, regardless of firmly re-establishing himself as a key participant beneath Ten Hag this season, has one 12 months left on his deal in the summertime and can flip 32 subsequent season. The England worldwide additionally got here near leaving Outdated Trafford final 12 months , with United accepting a proposal from West Ham, and stories point out the London membership are planning to return for the defender this summer season.
Neither Maguire nor Varane possess the mix of bodily and technical skills Ten Hag requires of his central defenders, whereas Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans are firmly squad choices. As such, United have made a “youthful, extra athletic” centre-back a precedence within the upcoming window; with the 20-year-old Silva becoming these necessities to a tee.
The Benfica academy graduate is tenacious defender who’s succesful with the ball as with out. He ranks within the 86th and ninety fifth percentiles for blocks and tackles respectively, illustrating his energy in one-on-one duels.
Conversely, Silva additionally clocks in on the 83rd and 78th percentile for profitable take-ons and progressive passes – reflective of his capability to transition with the ball out of defence -while rating within the 99th percentile for go completion, underscoring his energy in possession.
Former Tottenham Hotspur defender Jan Vertonghen, who performed for Benfica for 2 seasons as Silva was first establishing him within the senior squad, is adamant the Portuguese starlet is destined for the very prime of European soccer.
Talking final 12 months, Vertonghen revealed “the boy can be a legend” when requested about Silva’s potential. “If he retains doing what he’s been doing, he has the whole lot to be probably the greatest defenders on the earth in a 12 months or two,” the Belgian predicted.
With a brand new central defender a key a part of the equation for United this summer season, Silva seems tailor made to step into the Reds’ defence and proceed his meteoric rise at Outdated Trafford subsequent season if the membership can fend off curiosity from their rivals elsewhere in Europe.
