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Barcelona target Bernardo Silva 'set to stay at Manchester City'

By Oliver Thomas, Senior Reporter | 17 August 2022

Barcelona target Bernardo Silva 'set to stay at Man City'

Manchester City playmaker Bernardo Silva is reportedly set to stay at the club beyond the summer transfer window despite interest from Barcelona.

Manchester City playmaker Bernardo Silva is reportedly set to stay at the club this summer despite interest from Barcelona.

The 28-year-old's future at the Etihad Stadium has been questioned over the last 12 months, with the Portugal international admitting last summer that he was keen to seek pastures new.

Silva eventually stayed with the Citizens last season and enjoyed another successful campaign under Pep Guardiola, recording 13 goals and seven assists in 50 appearances across all competitions as well as winning the fourth Premier League title of his career.

Since City's top-flight success in May, Silva has been strongly linked with a move to Catalan giants Barcelona, with head coach Xavi identifying the playmaker as one of his top targets.

Both clubs are believed to have held talks throughout this summer, with Barca president Joan Laporta speaking directly to the player's agent Jorge Mendes.

Bernardo Silva in action for Manchester City on August 13, 2022 © Reuters

According to Sport, Barca have reached an agreement with both Silva and Mendes over personal terms, and they are preparing to make a final offer in an effort to persuade City to cash in on the playmaker.

However, The Athletic claims that Barcelona are highly unlikely to meet City's €100m (£84m) valuation of Silva, who still has three years remaining on his contract at the Etihad.

While there is still believed to be a 'remote possibility' that the situation could change before the September 1 deadline, Barca would seemingly need to sell a number of first-team players, including midfielder Frenkie de Jong, if they are to stump up City's asking price.

In a recent interview with ESPN, Silva suggested that City are aware of his desire to leave the club, saying: "I have been open with [City] and they know what I want.

"It's a big club and they don't want players who are not happy at the club. They always say to all of us that if you're not happy, you can go."

Manchester City's Bernardo Silva celebrates scoring their fifth goal before it is disallowed after a VAR review on February 15, 2022 © Reuters

Despite Barca expressing their interest in signing Silva, they are yet to table a formal bid for the playmaker, who is now focussed fully on the season ahead with Guardiola's side.

The Athletic adds that Silva is ready to commit his immediate future to the Premier League champions and is prepared to put aside thoughts of a potential move away from the club for this season at least.

Barcelona have already signed five players so far this summer, with Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski and Jules Kounde arriving for a combined fee in excess of £150m, while Andreas Christensen and Franck Kessie have arrived on free transfers.

Chelsea's Marcos Alonso is believed to be edging closer to a move to Camp Nou for around £8.4m, while the Catalan club are also keen to recruit a new right-back before the transfer deadline, with the likes of Villarreal's Juan Foyth and Borussia Dortmund's Thomas Meunier on their radar.