Transfer Centre

Manchester City to target Oscar Gloukh as Bernardo Silva replacement?

By Andrew Delaney, Reporter | 04 July 2023

Man City to target Gloukh as Bernardo Silva replacement?

Israeli midfielder Oscar Gloukh is reportedly a target for Manchester City as news of interest in Bernardo Silva from Saudi Arabia intensifies.

Manchester City are reportedly among the clubs who have shown interest in Red Bull Salzburg's Oscar Gloukh.

The midfielder has played a key role in the Israel Under-21 side reaching the semi-finals of the current European Under-21 Championships.

Gloukh assisted both of Israel's goals during the group stage which saw them progress with four points, before scoring the winning penalty against Georgia in their quarter-final shootout on Saturday.

That helped set up a tie with England on Wednesday evening in Batumi, giving clubs another chance to look at the player, who only joined Salzburg from Maccabi Tel-Aviv in January.

The Guardian claims that along with Man City, Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are also interested in the 19-year-old.

Gloukh first gained traction across the continent with his performances in last year's Under-19 Euros, where he scored three goals as Israel reached the final, including one in the showpiece occasion which they eventually lost to England.

The midfielder would go on to impress with Maccabi, scoring six and assisting seven goals in 18 domestic matches at the start of the 2022-23 season, leading Salzburg to spend €7m (£6m) to bring him to Austria in the winter transfer window.

Israel's Oscar Gloukh with teammates during the warm up before the match on June 19, 2023 © Reuters

It is not just at youth level where Gloukh has shown promise either on the international stage, as he has six senior caps and scored the injury-time winner direct from a corner in Israel's late comeback win against Belarus in a recent Euro 2024 qualifier shortly before the Under-21 Euros.

Salzburg's sister club RB Leipzig would expect to show keen interest in the player too, as they do with many of Salzburg's key men, given that Benjamin Sesko has already made that move this summer.

However, the report states that Gloukh is more attracted to a move to either the Premier League or La Liga.

It is believed that Barcelona are still interested after enquiries were made while Gloukh was still a Maccabi player, along with Villarreal and the cluster of aforementioned Premier League clubs.

With Man City rumoured to be one the clubs with their eyes on the Israeli teenager, the news comes amid reports linking Bernardo Silva with a move to Saudi Arabia.

Manchester City's Bernardo Silva celebrates scoring against Bayern Munich on April 11, 2023 © Reuters

Football Insider claims that City are willing to accept offers of around £45-50m for Silva, as they become more pessimistic of keeping the Portuguese midfielder at the Etihad.

Despite having two years still left on his deal in Manchester, Silva is expected to be offered a huge pay rise on his current £150,000-per-week deal by clubs in the Gulf state.

The report states that Silva may be lured away for a new challenge after helping City to the treble last season, completing a clean sweep of major honours left available to win with the club.

After winning 11 major trophies with Man City, Silva could opt to follow in Ilkay Gundogan's footsteps to move on and go out on a high, potentially bringing the club into the market for an attacking midfielder.