Aston Villa and Newcastle United are reportedly interested in signing 21-year-old Portuguese centre-back Antonio Silva from SL Benfica.
According to a report by TEAMtalk, Antonio Silva is the subject of interest from Aston Villa and Newcastle United. The two Premier League clubs are keen on bolstering their backline in the January transfer window and have set their sights on the SL Benfica prospect. Meanwhile, the Portuguese giants are ready to sanction a loan-to-buy deal worth €50 million for him.
Antonio Silva and his topsy-turvy journey
Antonio Silva has been one of the most highly-rated young defenders in the world since breaking into the first-team squad at SL Benfica a few years ago. A native of Viseu, he spent his formative years in Portugal, passing through the academies at three clubs and graduating from the fabled youth division at SL Benfica.
The 21-year-old made his first-team bow in the 2022/23 season and shortly became a mainstay at the back for SL Benfica. Since then, Silva has been a regular for the Eagles, although his stock has fallen in the 2024/25 season. The youngster has managed only 904 minutes of game time across 11 appearances in all competitions, chipping in with one goal and one assist.
While Silva’s stock at SL Benfica has fallen, he remains highly regarded in the market, with several high-profile clubs interested in him. Premier League bigwigs, in particular, are keen on signing the Portuguese defensive prospect, with aspirational clubs like Aston Villa and Newcastle United setting their sights on him.
Premier League adventure beckoning?
Newcastle United mulled over signing Antonio Silva in the summer transfer window before the deal failed to see the light of day. The continued interest in the youngster is understandable, considering the Tyneside outfit wanted to land two centre-backs in the summer but managed only one. So, Silva is a viable target for Newcastle United.
As for Aston Villa, Diego Carlos faces an uncertain future at the West Midlands club, with Unai Emery mulling over sanctioning his departure. So, the Villans need a new centre-back, with Silva an option worth considering. Meanwhile, SL Benfica will be open to accepting an initial loan bid for the 21-year-old academy graduate.
However, the Primeira Liga giants want his next club to include a mandatory purchase clause in the agreement worth €50 million. So, it will be interesting to see if Aston Villa and Newcastle United are ready to land the Portuguese international on a loan-to-buy deal next month.