Liverpool transfers: Initial contact for €100m 20-year-old; could replace Reds’ wanted man

Liverpool have reportedly made contact over an incredibly expensive young centre-back. The Reds aren’t the only ones, however.

Correio da Manha reports that Liverpool have made initial contact with Benfica over Antonio Silva. They're supposedly not the ones leading the race, though, and three Premier League sides, including the Reds, have asked about the player.

Manchester United are one of those, but the suggestion is that Arsenal lead the way. They're eager to sign Silva and hope to wrap up a transfer before the others move forward with their interest.

But there's a major sticking point, naturally. Silva has a €100m release clause in his contract and Benfica feel they could receive a figure close to that - if not the full fee.

And with interest from three of the world's richest clubs, you've got to say they're probably right. Silva is still only 20, after all, and represents a wonderful long-term signing for clubs in need of a centre-back.

The real question is: are Liverpool one of those? They might just be once we're into the summer transfer window.

Liverpool's Konaté problem

Ibrahima Konaté's future isn't clear-cut. The Frenchman has two years to run on his current contract and Liverpool are trying to tie him down to a new one.

However, the two parties are almost certainly at odds a little. Konaté dropped out of the first-choice XI towards the end of the season, but would almost certainly want assurances that he's to be Virgil van Dijk's main partner this season.

We'll just have to see where Liverpool land on it all, but Paris Saint-Germain reportedly want to take advantage of the situation. And if they do, Silva would suddenly seem like a very smart signing as the Reds look to their long-term future at the back.

With Joel Matip leaving and Virgil van Dijk ageing, a new star centre-back of the future nearly feels necessary. Konaté potentially leaving would make it inevitable.