Real Madrid have reportedly identified Benfica youngster Antonio Silva as a potential future transfer target.
Los Blancos opted to keep their transfer business to a minimum during the summer with Antonio Rudiger and Aurelien Tchouameni the only high-profile arrivals at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The pair have linked up with a squad which won last season's La Liga title and Champions League crown, and are expected to be in the mix for each piece of silverware during 2022-23.
However, while Real have youth on the side in many areas of the pitch, that is not necessarily the case in the centre of defence.
Aside from Eder Militao, who is just 24 years of age, each of the remaining senior players for that position will be over 30 come the end of the campaign.
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That may seemingly change during one of the upcoming transfer windows with Real allegedly taking an interest in a teenager currently impressing in Portugal.
According to Calciomercato, president Florentino Perez may be ready to make an investment in Silva after his performances for Benfica this season.
Ahead of his 19th birthday later this month, Silva has already made eight starts for the Portuguese giants during 2022-23, including in numerous high-profile fixtures.
Last month, Silva played the full 90 minutes in the middle of his club's backline as they recorded a memorable, and potentially-pivotal, 2-1 victory away at Juventus in the Champions League.
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That was backed up earlier this week as Benfica recorded a 1-1 draw against Paris Saint-Germain, another fixture in which Silva played the entire fixture.
With a contract extension until 2027 having been penned in September, Benfica have protected themselves from future big-money bids from other clubs.
Nevertheless, Benfica may be prepared to sell the Portugal Under-21 international at some point during his development if they feel it is an offer which they cannot turn down.
Silva had not made a single first-team appearance for Benfica until being handed his debut by recently-appointed head coach Roger Schmidt at the end of August.
Darren Plant
