Transfer News: Aston Villa monitoring Liverpool target Antonio Silva
As per BirminghamLive, Unai Emery’s Aston Villa are monitoring the situation of SL Benfica’s 19-year-old centre-back Antonio Silva who is also on the radar of Liverpool. The defender broke through the Portuguese side’s first team this season.
Graduating from Benfica’s Youth Academy and after featuring several times for their age group squads, Silva made a good impression of himself and is also a part of Fernando Santos’ Portugal squad for this year’s World Cup.
Benfica are famous for producing top-class talent and shipping them to other top European clubs. The last notable centre-back to make a big move from there was Ruben Dias, when the Portugal international moved from Os Encarnados to Manchester City.
Silva has a long contract at his club. Any potential buyer could have to shell out a humongous amount of money to secure his services given his age and ceiling.
He has made 18 appearances for Benfica across all competitions and has a cap for his national team as well. Showing all the signs of a bright future as well as anyone, Silva could be the next big thing in European football if he carries on the same momentum.
Liverpool’s situation in terms of centre-backs seems more than just sorted. With Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip at the helm, there is no actual need for an immediate replacement. And going into the future, Ibrahima Konate alongside Joe Gomez could be the heart of the defence with Nathaniel Phillips and other centre-backs providing the backup.
However, Liverpool know better than any other club the value of having solid depth and especially in centre-back. The tough 2020 still reminds fans of what a turbulent period actually is. The Reds could do with the services of Silva to avoid such calamities again.
Moreover, it’s always best to start planning for the future. Matip can’t keep playing forever and neither can Van Dijk – the two defenders who are in their 30s. Moreover, it remains to be seen if Gomez remains content with his role of being on the bench for the majority of the time.
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Hence, the Reds must take note of the Villans interest – a club that can perhaps offer him a more realistic chance at regular first-team football right now – and be on their toes if an opportunity to sign Silva arises.
