Manchester United Are Keeping A Keen Eye On This Talented Defender: Should Ten Hag Bring Him On Board? | OneFootball

In a recent report, O Jogo claimed that Manchester United are keeping a keen eye on Benfica defender Antonio Silva this summer. It has been mentioned that the Red Devils are eyeing a move to recruit the Portuguese talent.

Silva’s Solid Season In Portuguese Football

The 20-year-old has enjoyed a solid campaign at the Portuguese club as he has put in a series of impressive displays for them on the defensive third of the pitch. Silva has been involved in 35 matches for Benfica this season, scoring two goals in various competitions.

The gifted youngster has given a good account of himself when defending inside his half based on his average of 2.4 tackles, 0.5 interceptions and 3.3 clearances per 90 minutes in Liga Portugal. He has even been excellent when distributing the ball from the back based on his pass completion rate of 92.7% in the Portuguese top-flight (stats via whoscored).

His current contract at the Portuguese club will expire in the summer of 2027. Thus, it won’t be easy for the Red Devils to sign him on the cheap at the end of this campaign.

Benfica’s Portuguese defender #4 Antonio Silva (L) and Benfica’s Danish forward #19 Casper Tengstedt react at the end of the UEFA Champions League group D football match between Real Sociedad and SL Benfica at the Reale Arena stadium in San Sebastian on November 8, 2023. (Photo by ANDER GILLENEA/AFP via Getty Images)

Should Manchester United Boss Erik Ten Hag Bring Silva On Board?

Silva is a solid tackler of the ball and can time his challenges well to secure the ball back for his team inside his half. He doesn’t mind clearing his lines when needed and excels at playing his way out from the back.

Standing at 1.87m, the Portuguese sensation can be a dominant presence in the air as well. Hence, he would be a good signing for the Red Devils to consider at the end of this season. We can expect Silva to add more bite and steel to Man United‘s backline.

The Portuguese defensive ace might even serve as an ideal replacement for Raphael Varane who has struggled to impress at Old Trafford this season. All in all, ten Hag should focus on bringing Silva on board at the end of this campaign.

At 20, the Benfica whizkid has the potential to become a success story at the Mancunian club in the long run. However, there are some concerns over whether he can make a smooth transition to life in English football.