Bournemouth are reportedly ‘closing in’ on a transfer for Benfica’s Antonio Silva.
Fabrizio Romano noted on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday morning that the Cherries have secured an agreement on personal terms with the 22-year-old.
This comes after the highly-rated centre-back rejected the Portuguese outfit’s contract extension offer.
The Italian transfer news exit additionally confirmed that the deal is unlikely to be finalised this week.
🚨🍒 Bournemouth are closing in on Antonio Silva deal, here we go soon!
Agreement on personal terms with the centre back and very close also club to club with Benfica.
Nothing will be signed this week as Benfica will only allow exit to #AFCB later on. pic.twitter.com/pBqvTwhFhf
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 15, 2026
While we can appreciate the logic behind potentially opting to sign a more experienced centre-half this summer (to complement young talents in Giovanni Leoni and Jeremie Jacquet), this one does rankle a little.
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Especially so after watching Brighton and Hove Albion move to secure another talented prospect in Luka Vuskovic from Tottenham for a relatively paltry £46m.
Liverpool could really do with another top-notch centre-back this summer, but it seems we’re dragging our feet waiting to see if Bradley Barcola is gettable – and where that then leaves the rest of the budget.
We appreciate £46m feels like a lot for a 19-year-old defender with one great season on loan in the Bundesliga.
Although, if reports around Antonio Silva’s fee are accurate – around €20m [£17m], according to Football Place – we’re struggling to fathom why Liverpool wouldn’t take a punt.
To be fair to our recruitment, it’s entirely possible that we don’t rate the player as highly as Bournemouth, which could be partly due to reasonable concerns over the level of protection he’ll give us in the air.
But it’s the kind of price tag that would still allow us to pursue a high-value target like Bradley Barcola with confidence.
Perhaps if a more experienced option becomes available for a similar asking price, we’ll move to take advantage.
But until that point, it seems we’re holding out to evaluate the state of the budget after a potentially record-breaking transfer move.
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Must be frustrating for Iraola having Hughes as his Sporting Director. Inaction or overspending seem to be his skills.
Barcola is not worth the money, we should look elsewhere. Inacio could be a good buy for our defence.
Barcola is slim jordan ibe. Dimomande another raheem sterling. We need skillful wingers with END product.
We need a CDM , a high operating RB, and a goal machine . Good luck recruitment team
Livepool should sign barcola or Rashford
This Liverpool recruitments team is a shame to the football world…how can they take one position serious than the whole team… knowing very much that the team needs several replacements ,they are waiting to replace one position…not even thinking of beefing up the whole team like what other teams are doing…shame on you Hughes and your recruiting team
Barcola isn’t worth the money we should be looking elsewhere not being reliant on one marquee signing too many targets have gone elsewhere
WE ARE SICK ABOUT THIS.WE NEED RB,CB,LB,CDM,CF,RW.WHAT THE F*** IS HAPPENING.
We are doing a usual f’ing it all up zgzin. Will we ever learn?
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