FC Barcelona are ready to test Bernardo Silva’s commitment to Manchester City and have stepped up their pursuit of a summer transfer, according to the Telegraph.
Barcelona are understood to have identified Bernardo as one of their top targets and will look to offer the Sky Blues a player-plus-cash deal to take the Portuguese midfielder to the Camp Nou.
The La Liga giants are not gifted with a vast budget to work with before sales but believe a player of Bernardo’s quality does not come around often enough to be able to pass on the chance of signing City’s 2019 Player of the Year.
Barcelona chiefs are willing to make Bernardo a key part of their side next season, though could be challenged by the £150,000-per-week midfielder’s representatives as doubt lingers over the future of Barca head coach Quique Setien.
Long-term Citizens target Nelson Semedo is thought to be among those who could be offered to Pep Guardiola’s side, though it remains to be seen how much cash Barca are able to include in any potential deal to appease City’s undisclosed valuation.
Should Bernardo be a guaranteed started at the Etihad Stadium?
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Barcelona feel Bernardo may be on the market this summer having faded in Guardiola’s pecking order during the 2019/20 season, to the point the 25-year-old went from the Sky Blues’ Player of the Year to being snubbed against Real Madrid in the Champions League Round of 16 second-leg.
Guardiola instead favoured Phil Foden as a false-nine in the absence of the injured Sergio Aguero, while Riyad Mahrez has also been called on over Bernardo at times during the recently concluded domestic campaign.
Bernardo made just 23 starts in the Premier League this term, was an unused substitute in the FA Cup Semi-Final defeat to Arsenal and was gifted just 13 minutes as a late substitute in the Carabao Cup Final against Aston Villa.
Man City are in no need of accepting a low offer for Bernardo with the midfielder under contract until 2025, but the assurance of regular minutes as a key player may become very tempting if Guardiola cannot make the same guarantees.