Real Madrid have reportedly identified Benfica defender Antonio Silva as a potential summer transfer target.
Silva had not played a single league match for the Portuguese giants before the start of this season, and was only viewed as a future prospect.
Nevertheless, the 19-year-old has had a rapid rise at Stadium da Luz, appearing in 30 games across all competitions in 2022-23.
All but four of those appearances have come in the Primeira Liga and Champions League, with Silva starring as Benfica sit atop the standings and are closing in on a place in the quarter-finals of Europe’s biggest competition.
Because of Silva’s meteoric rise to fame, Portugal selected him for their World Cup team, and he played the full 90 minutes against South Korea.
Benfica moved to acknowledge Silva’s elevated status by awarding him a new contract in September, tying him to the club for another five years.
However, the centre-back has attracted admirers willing to test Benfica’s resolve with a large-money offer.
Record claims that Silva is among the leading candidates on Real’s shortlist for the upcoming summer.
Josko Gvardiol of RB Leipzig has been heavily linked with a move to the Bernabeu, though Real would certainly face competition from Premier League clubs.
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Nevertheless, Leipzig are keen to keep their most valued asset, potentially forcing clubs like Los Blancos to search elsewhere.
After falling behind Barcelona this season, Carlo Ancelotti might believe that his side could use the arrival of a fourth elite center-back, should he remain as Real’s manager.
Many clubs could be interested in Silva if he plays for Benfica in the latter stages of the Champions League, where his team is presently leading Club Brugge 2-0 on aggregate.
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