Manchester United want to keep tabs on Benfica defender Antonio Silva and scouted him in the Champions League this week.
The Mirror report that that the teenager was the reason United had representatives at the 1-1 draw between Benfica and Paris Saint-Germain in midweek.
The 18-year-old central defender is enjoying a breakthrough season in Portugal and has also reportedly attracted interest from Real Madrid.
The Mirror report United have a big interest in Silva, and that Erik ten Hag wants a quality young defender to add to his ranks.
United want Antonio Silva
Silva looks to have a huge future in the game and the report says that Benfica will absolutely not consider a sale during January.
But he could move in the summer and he currently has a release clause of just £13 million in his contract, which looks like a bargain for a player with such a big future.
Benfica are apparently trying to get into negotiations to get that up, but Silva has a deal until 2027, so why would he negotiate a deal which makes it harder to move?
If the Portuguese outfit can get that done, it would be a real coup, or they face a hugely talented defender being poached on the cheap during the summer.
It seems United would perhaps need to be in the Champions League next term to attract a defender who has interest from Madrid.
He will likely be catching the attention of scouts across Europe for his impressive performance up against the most star-studded attack in Europe.
It remains to be seen how Ten Hag reshapes his squad in his second summer in charge, and what money is available to do that.
Manchester City defender Ruben Dias has already asked for a signed shirt from his compatriot, given the expectation around him and where his career could go, as per the report.
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