According to reports, Liverpool might recruit a Portugal international who was recommended by Cristiano Ronaldo before Manchester United could.

January is not projected to be a big month for either team, with United in particular having FFP restrictions during the window.

However, after Joel Matip’s season-ending anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury against Fulham last month, the Reds have been linked to a center-back deal.

Additionally, manager Jurgen Klopp was unable to select a center defender off the bench for Sunday’s FA Cup third-round victory over Arsenal due to Virgil van Dijk’s illness. As a result, Joe Gomez filled in for Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas at left back.

The Daily Mail claims that Liverpool has dispatched scouts to see Benfica wonderkid Antonio Silva, who at the age of just 20 is one of the best defenders in Portugal.

The right-footed center-back is an important member of Benfica’s team and is now the highest-ranked defender in Liga Portugal for passing accuracy this season, according to WhoScored.

Along with ranking highly in tackles and blocks per ninety minutes, he is also predicted to be one of the world’s best football players in the future.

After Erik ten Hag took over at United in 2022, the Daily Mirror said that Silva was well-liked by both Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes at Old Trafford because they had both played with the teenage defender for the Portuguese national team.

Ousmane Diomande, a center defender for Sporting Lisbon who will play for Ivory Coast at this month’s Africa Cup of Nations, is another option for Liverpool.

The 20-year-old, who is apparently being followed by both Arsenal and Newcastle, has been a fixture in the Sporting squad this season, playing with former Liverpool center-back Sebastian Coates and Goncalo Inacio, who the Reds are reportedly also very interested in.