Chelsea, Manchester United, and Liverpool are locked in a battle for Benfica defender Antonio Silva, according to journalist Simon Phillips. The Portuguese has been outstanding in recent times and has turned heads at multiple clubs across Europe.
Silva rose through the ranks at Estadio da Luz before breaking into the first team in 2022. He has since established himself as a first team regular for Benfica. This season, the 20-year-old has appeared eight times across competitions, seven of which have been starts.
His efforts have already turned heads at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea are looking for defensive reinforcements amid the struggles of Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile. The Blues roped in Tosin Adarabioyo on a free transfer this summer to replace the outgoing Thiago Silva.
The London giants could return to the market next year for Silva to fortify their backline. However, Chelsea will face competition from Liverpool and Manchester United in the race for the Portuguese.
The Red Devils invested heavily in Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt this summer. However, with Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof likely to leave, Manchester United could be forced to consider defensive reinforcements in 2025.
Meanwhile, Liverpool are also sweating on the future of Virgil van Dijk, whose contract at Anfield expires at the end of this season. The Dutchman is yet to sign an extension and the Reds want to move for Silva should Van Dijk leave.
The young defender is under contract with Benfica until 2027, so prising him away won’t be easy. The Portuguese club are known to be shrewd negotiators, so they are likely to demand a hefty fee to let Silva go.
Will Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester United invest in the squad this winter?
Manchester United could be forced to invest in the squad at the turn of the year following their recent form. The Red Devils are currently 12th in the Premier League, 10 points behind leaders Liverpool.
The Reds, meanwhile, are flying high under Arne Slot and have won seven of their eight games in the league. The Merseyside club wanted to reinforce their midfield this summer, and could be tempted to address the position in January.
Chelsea, meanwhile, have also done well so far under new manager Enzo Maresca. The Blues have won four of the eight games in the league and are sixth in the table at the moment. The London giants invested heavily in the squad over the summer and the trend could continue this winter.
