Liverpool, Man City £45m centre-back target heading for ‘legendary’ status thanks to meteoric rise

A top Liverpool and Manchester City centre-back target is already heading for legendary status within the game despite only being 19 years of age.

The two Premier League giants are both being strongly linked with a summer swoop for Benfica defender Antonio Silva, who is currently making a huge name for himself in Portugal.

The defender is the latest in a long line of young talent coming through at Benfica, who have made a habit of selling at just the right time and price point.

The Portuguese media have already made it clear that Silva is being watched by big European clubs, with the Reds and City among them.

And former Benfica and Tottenham star Jan Vertonghen has explained just how good the youngster is and will be.

Vertonghen believes it’s only a matter of time before Silva becomes a top centre-back in European football.

“They had to put the kid António Silva in, but the boy is going to be a legend,” Vertonghen told CNN (via Record).

“If he continues to do what he has been doing, he has everything to be one of the best defenders in the world within a year or two.”

City in first but Liverpool scouts working overtime

City were the first club to have their interest reported by media in France at the start of the current campaign, at a time when PSG were also looking at a deal.

However, Portuguese has stated that Liverpool have scouted Benfica’s young talent on several occasions, with Silva a major target.

Indeed, the Anfield outfit were tipped to make a January swoop for the player but nothing materialised.

The youngster will not come cheap though, with the Portuguese giants pushing for a fee of around £45million.

But if Vertonghen’s comments are anything to go by then Silva will be worth every penny to whoever signs him.

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