Benfica accelerates the signing of a center-back following the departure of António Silva.

The imminent departure of António Silva forces Benfica into a race against time to secure a new central defender. The young Portuguese international and captain is heading to Bournemouth in a transfer valued at 25 million euros, plus an additional five million in bonuses. Until the second leg of the Europa League qualifying round against St. Gallen, scheduled for Thursday at the Luz, António Silva and Clément Lenglet will share the defensive axis, but his departure will create a difficult void to fill.

Benfica has already expressed urgency in finding a replacement capable of quickly integrating into the squad and competing for a starting spot. Tomás Araújo, who has been an option and was on the bench in Switzerland, came on during the first half of the friendly against Belenenses and may be used in the upcoming European match. However, Araújo's experience may not be enough to compensate for António Silva's departure, highlighting the need for an immediate reinforcement.

Gabriel Índio, who turns 18 tomorrow and will be officially presented as a new signing, is not registered for the Europa League and is expected to continue his development with the B team, given the demands of the top competition. The club does not rule out the possibility of signing two central defenders, but the absolute priority is on securing a replacement who can provide an immediate competitive response.

This week will be decisive for Benfica in defining the new central defender, with the management accelerating negotiations to avoid compromising defensive stability ahead of European challenges. After securing this position, the club plans to move on to the files concerning a winger and a defensive midfielder, areas that also require strengthening.

Time is short and the pressure is mounting to secure a reinforcement capable of competing for a place alongside Lenglet and Araújo. The departure of António Silva is a heavy blow, but Benfica aims to respond quickly and effectively to maintain the team's competitiveness.