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When Benfica sold Ederson to Manchester City for a near record fee during the summer, it gave the Portuguese club a great idea: Sign young goalkeepers and see their value rise quickly.

That led to Benfica being linked to every conceivable young target, players who could be signed and developed, given trust and a platform sooner than they’d get elsewhere.

Manchester United’s own Andreas Pereira was said to be a serious consideration, but the Portuguese stopper stayed where he is, a decision he may reevaluate in the summer if other young goalkeepers continue coming to prominence around Europe.

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Benfica eventually signed Mile Svilar, an 18 year old goalkeeper from Anderlecht. Injury to Julio Cesar, who is still at the Lisbon club, gave Svilar a chance against Olhanense at the weekend. Impressing many, the young Belgian has a chance to hold onto his place, even though Cesar is thought to be fit for the Manchester United match.

Svilar’s father Ratko has told Belgium’s DH: “I think he’s going to play.”

That would represent a huge chance for the goalkeeper who could go from being in the background at Anderlecht to playing in the Champions League against Manchester United in just a few months.