Antonio Silva: Chelsea enter the race to sign Manchester United’s top defensive target | OneFootball

Chelsea are reportedly eyeing two youthful defensive stars from Benfica, Antonio Silva and Tomas Araujo, to bolster their backline.

According to Simon Phillips (via Caughtoffside), the Blues’ search for defensive reinforcements has led them to Silva and Araujo, with the former attracting interest from Manchester United and Liverpool.

Under Erik ten Hag, United have invested heavily in defenders, with signings like Lisandro Martinez and Matthijs de Ligt.

Although Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof seem unlikely to have long-term futures at Old Trafford, whether the club will look to bring in yet another central defender so soon remains to be seen.

United could view Silva as an ideal long-term option, particularly if Ten Hag’s future becomes uncertain.

Despite Martinez’s impressive ball-playing ability, his defensive recklessness has been a concern.

A new manager might prefer a younger, more physically commanding centre-back like Silva, whose stature and potential make him a perfect fit for United’s future defensive core.

The club may need to offload one or two existing centre-backs to accommodate Silva.

The allure of regular game time and the opportunity to develop under Chelsea’s ambitious ownership may prove attractive for the young defender.

However, the constant managerial changes at Stamford Bridge raise questions about the stability of this project.

On the other hand, Liverpool could offer Silva a more established and consistent environment.

Moreover, with Virgil van Dijk nearing the end of his contract, a long-term successor may soon be needed in the heart of their defence.

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