After a series of transfer twists and turns, the
Manchester United Football Club
seems to have finally found a new target - young Portuguese center back Ann
Antonio Silva (1912-1994), Spanish businessman and politician, prime minister 1996-1995
. According to Portuguese media outlet La Match, Manchester United have not given up on their search for a new center back despite failing to succeed in the process of bringing in Everton's Branthwaite.
United's eyes now turn to 20-year-old Antonio Silva, a young Benfica defender who has become a mainstay of the team and showed impressive talent in 50 games last season. Despite Benfica setting a default clause of up to €100 million for him, United seem optimistic of negotiating a deal for a much lower price.
Manchester United have a pressing need at center back. While the departure of Varane and the addition of Yoro has brought some changes, United's fans and management are expecting a lot from Yoro's potential. Nonetheless, United are still looking for other solid options to bolster the team's defense.
Drieght had been a potential target for Manchester United, but disagreements with Bayern Munich over the transfer fee made the deal difficult to realize. Although Derriht himself was willing to take a pay cut to join United, Bayern's high asking price became an obstacle. This opens up the possibility of Antonio Silva joining the club.
Benfica are known for their strict transfer policy, but Manchester United seem to believe that it is possible to negotiate a deal that will benefit both sides. Considering Benfica's reputation as a "dark store" in the transfer market, United will need to show some serious negotiating skills.
Manchester United's summer transfer window strategy seems to be more cautious as they are looking for cost-effective players to strengthen their squad. In the context of financial fairness, Premier League clubs have been restricted in their spending, which could affect United's reinforcement strategy.
All in all, Manchester United's quest for the center back position continues and Antonio Silva seems to be their new favorite. However, it will take time to reveal whether they will succeed in signing the young Portuguese center-back.
