“£52 million needs to be spent”, Liverpool set to sign a 19-year-old defender in the next transfer window to replace Joel Matip

Benfica’s valuation of Portuguese starlet Antonio Silva is alleged £52 million, and Premier League club Liverpool has shown interest in acquiring him at the season’s conclusion

It has been reported by TEAMtalk that Liverpool is trying to strengthen their defence alternatives. And Antonio Silva, a defender for Benfica who is just 19 years old, has been pegged as a priority this summer.

According to reports, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has his eye on the Portuguese prodigy as he searches for defensive reinforcements. The fitness of Joel Matip has been a worry for Liverpool, and Joe Gomez has not been stellar.

The Merseyside club now only has two solid defenders in Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk. The young Frenchman has, though, dealt with his share of injury issues. Therefore, Liverpool must prioritize the acquisition of a solid central defender during the next summer transfer window. And whether or not they can settle on a price with the Portuguese team remains to be seen.

The defender has been linked with a move to Manchester United, who have placed a valuation on him at £52 million. The 19-year-old is under contract with Benfica for the foreseeable future, and the club is not going to allow him to leave for a pittance. It will be fascinating to watch how the issue plays out, but it seems likely that Liverpool will have to pay a high price to get the player.

The Premier League powerhouses could use a few new faces, particularly in the centre of the field. How much support Klopp receives from the club’s upper management in the summer transfer window is an open question. In light of their recent spending habits, it’s possible that Liverpool won’t set aside £52 million to sign a new defender.

Silva has a bright future ahead of him and is highly regarded in Portuguese football. The young defender is just 19, so he has plenty of time to develop into a solid player and become an excellent long-term investment for Liverpool.

The move to Anfield could hasten Silva’s development because of Klopp’s proven ability to help young players improve. Whether Liverpool spends £52 million for the Portuguese phenom in 2023 remains to be seen.