Bernardo Silva 'rejects chance to join Arsenal'

Manchester City attacker Bernardo Silva has rejected the chance to join Arsenal during this summer's transfer window, according to Portuguese journalist Felipe Dias.

Citizens boss Pep Guardiola revealed earlier this month that Bernardo is keen to leave the Etihad Stadium, and both Barcelona and Atletico Madrid have been linked with his services.

Arsenal were also believed to be in the running for the Portugal international, but Dias has claimed that the 27-year-old has turned down the opportunity to move to the Emirates Stadium.

"The information we have is that Bernardo has made it pretty clear that this is the right time for him to leave," Dias told Transfer Talk.

"He did want to go to Barcelona. He wanted to live in Barcelona and play for Barcelona but Barcelona is going through such a big crisis that I don't think they can afford a player like him at the moment.

"The latest we heard is that Bernardo has rejected a move to Arsenal and if that is the case I think rightly so because I don't think that would be a step forward in his career. So, as it stands, Bernardo does want to leave City, but there's a big question mark as far as where he will go."

Bernardo, who still has four years left to run on his contract at the Etihad Stadium, was a late substitute during the Community Shield against Leicester City last weekend.