Transfer Centre

Liverpool 'refusing to pay Antonio Silva release clause'

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 04 April 2023

Liverpool reportedly have no intention of paying the €100m (£87.3m) release clause in the contract of highly-rated Benfica centre-back Antonio Silva.

Liverpool are not prepared to trigger the release clause in the contract of Benfica centre-back Antonio Silva, according to a report.

At the tender age of 19, Silva has enjoyed a breakthrough campaign under Roger Schmidt as Benfica go in search of Primeira Liga and Champions League glory.

Silva has posted four goals in 37 games for the Eagles, starting 23 top-flight games and helping the league leaders keep 15 clean sheets en route to first place.

The 2003-born centre-back has also started all eight games for Benfica in the Champions League so far, as the Eagles prepare to face Inter Milan in the quarter-finals.

Given his age and rapid rise for his hometown club, Silva has unsurprisingly attracted interest from several other top European clubs, but Benfica tied him down to a new long-term deal until September.

Benfica's Antonio Silva in action against Paris Saint-Germain on October 5, 2022 © Reuters

The teenager's contract includes a €100m (£87.3m) release clause, but Benfica are not prepared to enter negotiations for a lower fee and insist that the clause must be paid in full to part ways with Silva.

Liverpool are believed to have been keeping tabs on Silva during the first half of the season, but according to A Bola - via The Mirror - the Reds have been put off by his £87.3m release clause.

With Benfica consistently proving themselves to be ruthless negotiators, Liverpool will seemingly concede defeat in their pursuit of Silva lest they have a change of heart on paying his release clause.

Real Madrid are also believed to be keeping tabs on Silva's development, although it is unclear if Los Blancos would be willing to bow to Benfica's financial demands as well.

The Portugal international joined Benfica's youth ranks in 2016, and his breakthrough was rewarded with a call-up to Portugal's World Cup squad, playing the full 90 minutes in the Selecao's final group-stage defeat to South Korea.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp pictured on March 1, 2023 © Reuters

Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate tend to nail down the centre-back spots in Jurgen Klopp's first XI when fully fit, but the former has come under fire for a decline in performances this term.

Joel Matip has been dropped to the bench for the same reason, and the Cameroonian could be on the way out this summer before his contract expires in the summer of 2024.

Fellow out-of-favour centre-back Nat Phillips is also expected to be on the way out at the end of the season, having been blocked from leaving in January due to the Reds' defensive injury concerns.

As well as Silva, Liverpool are believed to be keeping a close eye on the situation of Eintracht Frankfurt's Evan Ndicka, whose contract with the German giants expires this summer.

RB Leipzig's Josko Gvardiol was also touted as a possible target, but Liverpool are not considered serious contenders to sign the 21-year-old, who is understood to be the top defensive target of Manchester City and Real Madrid.