Real Madrid have reportedly identified Benfica defender Antonio Silva as a future transfer target.
Before the start of this season, Silva had not played a single league fixture for the Portuguese giants, merely being regarded as a prospect for the coming years.
However, the 19-year-old has enjoyed a meteoric rise at Estadio da Luz, making a total of 30 appearances in all competitions in 2022-23.
All but four of those outings have come in the Primeira Liga and Champions League, Silva starring as Benfica sit at the top of the standings and are closing in on a place in the quarter-finals of European football's premier competition.
Such has been Silva's rise to prominence that he was called up to Portugal's squad for the World Cup, playing the full 90 minutes versus South Korea in the group stage.
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Benfica moved to recognise Silva's enhanced status by handing him a new contract in September, keeping him tied to the club for another five years.
Nevertheless, that has not stopped the centre-back attracting admirers who are ready to test Benfica's resolve with a big-money proposal.
According to Record, Silva features towards the top of Real's shortlist of options ahead of the summer.
RB Leipzig's Josko Gvardiol has been heavily linked with a switch to the Santiago Bernabeu, although Real would inevitably face competition from clubs in the Premier League.
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Furthermore, Leipzig are keen to retain the services of their most prized asset, potentially leaving clubs like Los Blancos to look elsewhere.
While the reigning European champions are currently well stocked for options in the middle of their backline, Nacho Fernandez and Jesus Vallejo could both depart at the end of the season.
Carlo Ancelotti, providing that he remains at the helm at Real, may also feel that his squad could benefit from a fourth world-class centre-back after losing ground on Barcelona this term.
More teams could look to scout Silva should he feature for Benfica in the latter stages of the Champions League, his team currently 2-0 ahead on aggregate versus Club Brugge.
Darren Plant
