Bournemouth are close to completing the signing of a Portugal international Antonio Silva, according reports.
The 22-year-old defender has racked up some 181 appearances for his boyhood club and is highly-touted in his home country.
Strong rumours with a move to AC Milan failed to materialise after the Italian club completed the signing of Mario Gila from Lazio. The Cherries have swooped to sign Benfica's impressive centre-back, who has just one year remaining on his contract.
Football transfer guru Fabrizio Romano is reporting that personal terms are already in place ahead of the proposed switch.
Silva has been long held in high regard in Portugal, representing Esperanças at various levels from U16s all the way up to U21s before earning his first full senior cap against Nigeria in 2022.
Named in Portugal's squad for the 2022 World Cup, Silva featured in their final group game and in the process became the youngest-ever player to represent Portugal at a World Cup, just 19 years, one month and three days old.
Silva has a Primeira Liga and Taca de Liga to show for his four full campaigns with Benfica, however, it appears that he will now head for British shores.
"Bournemouth are closing in on Antonio Silva deal, here we go soon!" Romano detailed on his X account.
"Agreement on personal terms with the centre back and very close also club to club with Benfica. Nothing will be signed this week as Benfica will only allow exit to #AFCB later on."
Argentine defender Marcos Senesi recently departed the Vitality Stadium on a free transfer to Tottenham Hotspur, just one year after Bournemouth lost both Ilya Zabarnyi and Dean Huijsen to Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid respectively.
The capture of Silva will leave the Cherries in a good spot with their centre-back talent though, with Bafode Diakite, James Hill and Velijko Milosavljevic all looking extremely promising.
