Liverpool hunting £87m player - Man United have also sent scouts

Liverpool and Man United have both been linked with a move for Benfica defender Antonio Silva, according to reports.

The 18-year-old centre-back was part of the Eagles team that won the UEFA Youth League last season.

It was the first time Benfica had won the trophy, with Silva playing 90 minutes on the left side of central defence in the final as the Portuguese giants defeated RB Salzburg 6-0.

Silva was promoted to the first team for this season. Despite beginning the campaign on the bench, he has made his way into the starting XI. The 18-year-old has started each of Benfica's last 11 matches in all competitions.

Two of those matches include the pair of 1-1 draws against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.

Silva was impressive across both ties - and it is perhaps unsurprising, therefore, that Les Parisiens have also now joined the race for his signature.

But both Liverpool and United have also been tracking him as the battle to sign the 18-year-old intensifies.

Liverpool, Man United keen on Antonio Silva

Portuguese outlet O Jogo are reporting that a host of clubs, including Liverpool and Man United, are interested in signing the young starlet.

On Saturday, Jurgen Klopp's side lost 1-0 to Nottingham Forest at the City Ground in the Premier League, and are without a number of senior defenders.

Joel Matip and Ibrahima Konate are currently on the sidelines through injury, whilst Trent Alexander-Arnold is making his return from a hamstring injury suffered in the 3-2 defeat to Arsenal earlier in October.

For Man United, they will be without influential centre-back Raphael Varane for the upcoming games. It was feared he may miss the World Cup after suffering a thigh injury against Chelsea. However, L'Equipe journalist Loic Tanzi reports he could only miss three weeks of action.

But with the injury to Varane, and doubt over the future of Harry Maguire, it would make sense for United to be looking to sign a new centre-back. And, according to the Daily Mirror, they have sent scouts to watch Silva already.

For either team to do a deal, O Jogo reports that they must pay the £87 million release clause in Silva's Benfica contract. This could be a transfer saga to keep a close eye on.