Man Utd linked with £87 million-rated powerhouse they 'really appreciate' amid centre-back concerns

Manchester United have just one match left of 2023 before the new year rolls in and they enter the second half of this unpredictable Premier League season.

The Red Devils have been hampered with injuries this term and a number of key players have been ruled out until January at the earliest.

At some point or another, every single one of United's senior centre-backs have been struck with injury this season, leaving Erik ten Hag with big gaps in his options at the back. Against Aston Villa, 19-year-old Willy Kambwala was the only natural central defender on the bench.

There is also the matter of those who are approaching the final months of their contracts at Old Trafford as well. Victor Lindelöf and Jonny Evans are both out of contract next summer, and there have been talks linking the likes of Harry Maguire and Raphaël Varane to January exits too.

Now, according to journalist Rudy Galetti, United are a club who are interested in Benfica centre-back António Silva. The 20-year-old 'remains in the sights of many European clubs' and both United and Paris Saint-Germain have been specifically named as sides who 'really appreciate' the young star.

Silva's current contract runs until 2027 and he has a reported release clause of €100 million (£87m). The Portugal international has never played outside of his home country so a move to the Premier League could be tempting but Benfica certainly won't let him go easy.

At just 20 years of age, Silva has already established himself as a key part of the senior team. He has started all but one Primeira Liga games this term and over the last two seasons, he has missed just four occasions.

Based on the length of his contract and his importance at such a young age, it's likely United and any other interested parties will need to fork out the money to trigger his release clause, rather than trying to negotiate a lower fee.