Chelsea attempted to secure the transfer of a player sought after by Manchester United, but their attempt was thwarted, resulting in a financial loss of £87 million, according to reports from The Sun. Silva, a 20-year-old prospect, caught Chelsea’s eye as a potential defensive asset after being scouted during Benfica’s recent win against Famalicao.
While United’s Sir Jim Ratcliffe also showed interest, Chelsea initiated talks with Benfica in hopes of securing Silva’s signature before their competitors, Manchester United and Liverpool.
Despite Chelsea’s negotiation efforts and an initial offer of £52 million plus Armando Broja, they were informed that they would need to meet Silva’s £87 million release clause, which they declined. With Silva still under a contract with Benfica for three and a half more years, the Portuguese club seems determined to hold out for a substantial fee during the January transfer window, following Chelsea’s significant spending since Todd Boehly and associates took over.
Benfica’s manager, Roger Schmidt, emphasized that potential deals can only proceed upon activation of the club’s release clause. He addressed the situation during a press conference, reaffirming the club’s stance on retaining key players like Silva and Joao Neves, stating, “These players are important to us and don’t want to go, so of course, we won’t let them go. There is no doubt about that.”
