Bournemouth is interested in signing António Silva, a 22-year-old Portuguese international central defender, and negotiations with Benfica are in progress. Tiago Pinto, the Premier League club's President of Football Operations, previously worked with Silva at the Lisbon club. Benfica's negotiating position is weakened because the player's contract expires at the end of the current season. The Portuguese club aims to structure a deal that could reach €20 million, including potential bonuses based on sporting objectives for both the club and the player.
Earlier in the pre-season, Benfica's general director, Mário Branco, had commented on the renewal process, stating that the decision was up to the players. Silva joined Benfica in July 2022, has 20 caps for his country, and made 108 appearances and scored 7 goals in the Liga Portugal during the 2025/2026 season. His current market value is €25.00m, according to Transfermarkt, and he has also been linked with clubs such as Juventus, Milan, and Newcastle United. Reports from June 2026 suggest Benfica values the player at €25 million, which is a decrease from July 2024 when a reported offer from Newcastle of €35 million plus €15 million in bonuses was rejected.
