Man Utd may lean on Bruno Fernandes to help strike Antonio Silva deal

Portugal fans suggest next club for Ronaldo after Man Utd exit

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Manchester United could look to call upon the services of Bruno Fernandes to help them negotiate a January move for one of his Portugal team-mates after the World Cup finishes next month. The Red Devils are likely to be one of several Premier League clubs keeping an eye on the action in Qatar to identify potential targets for the mid-season window, with many of the standout players from previous tournaments having earned high-profile moves as a result of their World Cup showings.

United have been linked with the addition of a new centre-back in January to provide some extra cover for the likes of Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane as Erik ten Hag looks to improve his squad in advance of the Premier League run-in. They have been credited with a desire to land Portugal star Antonio Silva, who they could decide to target as a long-term replacement for Harry Maguire, according to Rudy Galetti.

It is claimed that United are keen to offload Maguire in the not-too-distant future, with the England defender having fallen down the pecking order at Old Trafford under the management of Ten Hag so far this season. Silva could emerge as a shrewd replacement for Maguire if he is snapped up by United in January after bursting onto the European scene with Benfica, where he has registered 20 appearances in all competitions since the start of the campaign.

The 19-year-old has gained plenty of admirers as a result of his age-defying composure and ball-playing ability as of late, with United said to be among the sides keeping a close eye on his development in Portugal. He did not feature for his country in their World Cup group stage opener against Ghana on Thursday but will be hoping for a chance to impress in Qatar over the coming weeks and could put himself at the forefront of United’s transfer plans by showing them what he is capable of on the biggest stage of them all.

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United will be hoping that Fernandes can do his bit for the club by convincing Silva that a move to Old Trafford would be in his best interests, although it remains to be seen whether a deal can be engineered when the bidding eventually opens in January. He remains tied down to Benfica until the summer of 2027 as things stand, which suggests that he will not be sold for anything less than a premium fee if United decide to firm up their interest in his signature next year.

A bidding war for Silva could also be set to take shape when the transfer market reopens, with the likes of Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain also said to be keen on signing him for themselves at some point further down the line. The role of Fernandes in any potential move could, therefore, be crucial in ensuring that United gain the upper hand in the battle to poach Silva from Benfica before the end of January.

However, it seems as though Benfica have taken notice of the growing external interest in Silva by inserting a mega-money release clause in his deal at the club. It seems unlikely that they would be willing to accept any bids that fall below the £87million mark as a result, although United will be hoping to tempt them into selling Silva for less if Fernandes can turn the head of his international team-mate during the World Cup.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano is already convinced that Silva has the potential to excel at the highest levels of the game if he continues to develop on an upward trajectory, telling Caught Offside: “Remember the name: Antonio Silva. He’s a top player for the future, of course he needs some time to improve his skills but Benfica are convinced he will be worth £80m to £90m in the future.

“I’ve seen some reports of Liverpool and Manchester United looking at him. For sure, top clubs are following him but it’s important to say that there’s still nothing serious or concrete, as of now. He is still developing as a player, but let’s see where he is in a few years. The future looks bright for him.”

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