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Manchester United are in negotiations to sign Benfica star Antonio Silva and sent scouts to watch the defender against Portimonense last weekend.
The Red Devils are planning a major overhaul of the squad after Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s partial takeover and the club are expected to prioritise strengthening at centre-back, with the likes of Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans set for the exit door at Old Trafford.
It’s understood Raphael Varane and former captain Harry Maguire could also be deemed surplus to requirements, as long as United are confident they can bring in quality to replace the experienced duo.
Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite, Nice’s Jean-Clair Todibo and Atalanta’s Giorgio Scalvini have all been mooted as targets at the heart of defence and a new name have come to the fore in recent days.
According to Portuguese outlet O Jogo, United have been keeping close tabs on Benfica centre-half Silva and already ‘know everything’ about the 20-year-old – from his strengths and weaknesses to his contractual situation.
United are also aware of Silva’s eye-watering €100million (£85.5m) release clause, but that hasn’t stopped the club advancing with a possible move for the youngster.
It’s claimed the Premier League giants have established contact with Gestifute – the company that represents the defender – and watched the youngster as Benfica thumped Portimonense 4-0 at the Estadio da Luz last Sunday.
Silva would follow in the footsteps on Lindelof, who swapped Benfica for United in 2017, and would join fellow countryman Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot at Theatre of Dreams should he wind up in Manchester this summer.
However, it’s understood Benfica president Rui Costa will do everything in his power to convince Silva to stay beyond the end of the season.
The 6 ft 2 in Benfica academy product, who has been capped seven times by the Portugal national team, is tied into a contract with his boyhood club until 2027.
There remains uncertainty over the future of Erik ten Hag after a disappointing start to the season for United and, crucially, the club’s new co-owner, Ratcliffe, is yet to publicly endorse the Dutchman.
Reports emanating from France this week indicate that Zinedine Zidane has been identified as the ‘dream’ managerial target by INEOS, with the iconic ex-Real Madrid boss keen to return to coaching.
At a press conference on Tuesday, a defiant Ten Hag insisted he ‘didn’t care’ he was yet to receive a public vote of confidence from Ratcliffe and stressed that he had been blocking out all outside ‘noise’.
‘So I’m here. I’m under contract for three seasons, so I don’t care,’ he told reporters ahead of United’s FA Cup fifth round tie with Nottingham Forest.
‘I’m only focusing on the process, so I don’t care what’s going on around me. I have many talks with Sir Jim Ratcliffe, also with Sir Dave Brailsford and others in that group, so I know where we are and I feel that they believe in me.’
‘I know what I’m doing. Consistently we have talks, and we’re talking about the future together.
Ten Hag added: ‘If you talk about one defeat and the manager’s position is in discussion, I think it’s quite opportune after two months without a defeat. I can’t take it seriously.
‘It would be a problem when the leadership in this group has this approach or, internally, the others would have this approach, but that’s not the case. We are together there.
‘It’s not about me. I’m not focusing on my personal circumstances, I’m just focusing on the team. It’s all about focusing on that and don’t get distracted by any noise or whatever.’
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