António Silva Nearing England Move: All the Details

António Silva to Bournemouth is now just a matter of (a short) time. The deal between Benfica and the English club is practically finalized, with the Eagles set to receive around €20 million.

As A BOLA first reported in its digital edition late last Monday, Bournemouth — where Tiago Pinto (a former Benfica executive) serves as President of Football Operations — made a strong move to secure António Silva. Negotiations have progressed rapidly in recent hours, and our newspaper can now confirm that the minor remaining details are unlikely to prevent the Portuguese center-back's transfer to the Premier League club. Bournemouth is offering the young Benfica academy product a five-year contract, a significant step given António Silva's current contract with Benfica only runs until 2027.

The timing of his departure, however, has a clear explanation. Benfica faces St. Gallen on the 23rd in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League's second qualifying round. With Tomás Araújo still on holiday after his international duties at the World Cup, coach Marco Silva has limited options in central defense. If António Silva is unavailable for the match against the Swiss side, the new Eagles' coach would only have Clément Lenglet and the young Gabriel Índio. Therefore, the player currently wearing the number 4 shirt is expected to partner with the Frenchman, signed from Atlético Madrid, in the heart of the defense.

Consequently, Benfica officials are keen for the deal to be finalized only after the St. Gallen match (or even after both legs of the tie). However, the transfer market, as we know, dictates its own rules. This decision will need to be made in the coming days, especially as Benfica is racing against the clock for the official start of the new season.

As our newspaper also reported yesterday afternoon, the Benfica board, led by Rui Costa, views Ibrahima Ba as a worthy successor to António Silva. The 21-year-old Senegalese defender was a key player for Famalicão last season and is seen at the Estádio da Luz as a solid investment for the present.

To secure his services, Benfica will need to open their coffers to convince the Famalicão board, chaired by Miguel Ribeiro, to part with the towering (1.90 meters) African. The Minho club is unlikely to let Ibrahima Ba leave for less than €20 million. The potential deal could, however, take a different form, possibly involving a slightly lower upfront fee with the promise of a future investment for another portion of his economic rights. This mirrors Famalicão's past dealings, notably with Ugarte and Pedro Gonçalves, both of whom were sold (at different times) to Sporting.