Man Utd plot move for teenager with €100m release clause
Karan Tejwani
- 8 Oct 2022 17:55 BST
- 3 min read
Manchester United are building a team for the long-run under new manager Erik ten Hag and are targeting an emerging star at Benfica.
The vision at Manchester United is to bring in prospects who will be there for the long run, as evident by the signings of Antony, Lisandro Martinez and Tyrell Malacia over the summer transfer window.
They are also targeting some prospects for the future, including Benfica’s defensive prospect Antonio Silva, who is 18-years-old and has impressed in the senior side for the Portuguese giants.
Manchester United have been tracking his progress over the last few years, and could finally make a move for him but the player’s release clause could be a stumbling block.
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Silva has bumped into the Benfica first team over the course of this season, even playing in Champions League matches in recent weeks, in what is a testament to his quality.
Benfica are yet to lose a match in which Silva has played for them, a record he’ll be hoping to maintain for a long time as he becomes a more important player for them.
💭 | After the match against PSG, 18-year-old António Silva was asked if he is dreaming of a World Cup place..
“I’m only dreaming of playing against Rio Ave in the next match”.
What a talent Benfica have on their hands. pic.twitter.com/0UaVPIPb5O— Próxima Jornada (@ProximaJornada1) October 6, 2022
Back in April, he was a part of the Benfica side that went all the way with the U-19s in the UEFA Youth League – the biggest youth competition in domestic European football.
Now, Manchester United want to explore the possibility of a move for next summer but he has a release clause of €100 million, having signed a contract back in September that runs until the summer of 2027.
Erik ten Hag will have to be able to justify spending a high amount of money, and more than that, they may face competition from Real Madrid for the player’s signature.
United have four options they’ve used at centre-half this season, but there have still been questions raised over their defensive solidity with the side losing matches by some big scorelines this season.
