Liverpool have received backing in their bid to claim the signature of Portuguese centre-back Antonio Silva, with interest set to intensify as the January transfer window looms near.
Jurgen Klopp seemingly has something of an eye for the shrewd transfer, consistently finding talented prospects and nurturing them into world-class phenoms, and Silva could join this illustrious list with a move to Anfield.
According to Portuguese outlet A Bola (via Liverpool Echo), the Kop could welcome a fresh addition in the coming weeks, with Liverpool set to open conversations with Silva’s club SL Benfica to discuss a move after the World Cup.
Their interest stretches back to October, when Fabrizio Romano confirmed the growing intrigue in his name, suggesting a fee of €90m (£77m) could be what it takes to prise him away.
Since then, Football Insider recently spoke to former Premier League striker Noel Whelan, who urged Klopp to swoop for the 19-year-old and build a squad capable of rivalling Manchester City’s depth of quality.
Klopp’s own Dias
Liverpool might indeed need to bolster the ranks if they are to maintain their pursuit for silverware across multiple fronts across the coming years, with City seemingly inflexible in their might and the likes of Arsenal now emerging as new challengers in the division.
Silva, just 19 years of age, is “going to be a superstar”, as proclaimed by Jamie Carragher to CBS Sports, and the club that does manage to prise him away from Portuguese clutches will have some player on their hands over the coming years.
Making 20 appearances for Benfica this term, scoring three goals, Silva is swiftly emerging as one of Portugal’s most touted prospects, earning shades of similarity to Man City’s Ruben Dias.
Dias, who also signed in the Premier League from Benfica, in 2020, arrived at Pep Guardiola’s Sky Blues in a £65m deal, contributing enormously to the club’s title-winning campaign and winning Premier League Player of the Season.
Silva will likely idolise his 25-year-old compatriot, or at the very least seek to emulate his rise to the forefront of world football, and a move to Liverpool, a similarly ambitious English outfit, could provide the perfect platform for such endeavours.
The teenager started just one match at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, although this is no detriment to his playing ability, at 19-years-old it is a commendable feat, and he played an important role against South Korea, by-and-large looking assured and compact at the back before the Asian side completed a late comeback.
Indeed, he completed 97% of his passes, made one tackle, one interception and one clearance, losing possession just two times, as per Sofascore.
Indeed, the two-cap colossus has paved the way for a fruitful career indeed, and will slowly work his way into the national fray as one of the most important components.
He will soon become one of the biggest names on the globe when the conversation arises for the toughest titan, the most formidable centre-back to place in your team, and Liverpool should open the purse now and reap the rewards later.