The dream £80m defensive signing that could turbocharge Newcastle United’s top four push

Newcastle United’s plans for their next two transfer windows are well underway as they look to continue the impressive progression they have acheived over the last two years.

It seems remarkable to think the rapid development under their new ownership has meant the Magpies have gone from struggling to pay a loan fee for a squad player from Leicester City to being viewed as realistic contenders for some of European football’s most talked about talents.

In the last four transfer windows, the likes of Sven Botman, Bruno Guimaraes, Alexander Isak and Sandro Tonali have all been persuaded to move to Tyneside and the Magpies have also made some impressive moves in the domestic market by completing deals for Anthony Gordon, Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento, who could form part of their squad for the next decade.

Although the St. James’ Park hierarchy have brought in established talents such as Kieran Trippier and Nick Pope, they seem to have a specific game plan when it comes to recruitment by targeting players in their early-to-mid twenties with room to develop with the club in their bid for success or to be sold at a profit to aid in their ongoing battle with financial fair play regulations.

Almost every area of Eddie Howe’s squad has been enhanced during the last two years and thoughts are now turning towards fine-tuning his options as the former Bournemouth boss looks to deliver on the ambitious targets of the club owners.

A younger option at the top end of the pitch has been considered as the Magpies look to provide further competition for Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson. A winger has been discussed by some but there are high hopes for Yankuba Minteh as the first signing of the summer continues to impress during a loan spell with Dutch champions Feyenoord.

One area many have identified is a long-term partner for the impressive Botman as the ever-impressive Fabian Schar reaches what are likely to be the final years of his time at St. James’ Park and club captain Jamaal Lascelles enters the final 12 months of his current deal.

A centre-back is believed to be on the agenda for Magpies recruitment staff and several options across the Premier League and around Europe are being monitored. OGC Nice star Jean-Clair Todibo, Sporting CP’s Goncalo Inacio and Bayer Leverkusen’s Edmond Tapsoba have all been watched by United scouts in recent months and closer to home Crystal Palace’s Joachim Andersen is admired within the walls of St. James’ Park.

An ambitious target lies elsewhere

One possible target, and without question one that would be the most expensive, is Benfica’s highly-rated defender Antonio Silva, who at just 19-years-old has already proven he is more than capable of coping with life at the highest level and is likely to become one of European football’s most sought after youngsters over the next 12 months.

After impressing in Benfica’s UEFA Youth League campaign during the 2021/22 season, Silva was introduced to the senior setup during the early stages of the following campaign and marked his maiden first-team start with a solid display in a 3-0 win at Boavista in August 2022.

Stepping into the void left by an injuries elsewhere to partner former Manchester City defender Nicolas Otamendi, Silva eased into life at a senior level and was duly rewarded with a new long-term contract containing a buyout clause believed to be around £80m.

His first season ended with 44 appearances and five goals in all competitions as the young centre-back helped his side reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League and win the Primeira Liga. There was also the added bonus of a first call-up to the senior Portugal squad and Silva’s development received further recognition when he was named in their squad for the World Cup Finals in Qatar.

Despite being just 19-year-old, Silva has already made over 50 appearances for Benfica, with 11 coming in the Champions League and has earned six senior Portugal caps, a figure that will be increased over the next month as his side round off their Euro 2024 qualification campaign.

What has been said about Silva’s ability?

Speaking to Portuguese news outlet Record earlier this year, former Spurs and Benfica defender Jan Vertonghen said: “Otamendi is making a wonderful time. At his age, he remains very physical and important and a key player in the team. He is a true leader, as demonstrated in the World Cup.

“At the beginning of the season he started playing with Morato, who is a very good player, but then, because of the injuries they had to put the kid Antonio Silva, but the boy will be a legend. If he keeps doing what he’s been doing, he has everything to be one of the best defenders in the world in a year or two.”

Benfica manager Roger Schmidt said of Silva shortly after his introduction into the first-team: “Antonio is 18, but when you see him on the pitch, he doesn’t look that age.

“It was obvious in pre-season that he is a talented player and that he is already a professional player who is able to withstand the pressure playing for the Benfica first team, and he has shown it many times this season.”

Would Silva fit into Eddie Howe’s Newcastle side?

The main question would be whether Newcastle could afford to pay what is likely to be a club record fee to persuade Benfica to sell their prize asset? The Magpies continue to contend with FFP regulations although a good run in the Champions League and further income from new sponsor deals could well give them some room for manouvre in the transfer market.

As for whether Silva could fit into a Howe side, the answer without any doubt is yes. Stats provided by FBref.com show us the young centre-back acheived a higher pass completion rate (91.4%) than Fabian Schar (77.1%), Sven Botman (86.5%) and Jamaal Lascelles (84.9%) last season. He also acheived a higher completion rate when it comes to long-range passes including switches of play.

He alsou outscores his potential team-mates with average tackles made per 90 minutes but falls short of Schar when it comes to interceptions across the same time period. With Howe encouraging his centre-backs to carry the ball out of defence and instigate attacks, one significant plus point is Silva’s rate of ‘progressive carries’ is also four times that of Botman and is higher than Schar’s.

One area where he falls short is in aerial duals, with his average success rate of 61.3% falling just shy of Schar (67.1%), Lascelles (62.5%) and Botman (65.2%) - but that seems unlikely to have any negative impact on the view Silva would be an ideal addition to a forward thinking Newcastle side and would be an upgrade on their current options in defence.