Bernardo Silva has been linked with a move to Barcelona in the last two summer transfer windows without a deal materialising and it appeared the Catalan giants were giving up on trying to sign him in January, but Gabriel Sans of Mundo Deportivo says Manchester City will be holding talks with the 28-year-old over his future.
Silva is open to joining Barca and was public in his desire to switch clubs over the summer, but the Liga giants haven’t matched his £80m asking price. Pep Guardiola doesn’t want to lose the Portuguese international, but Sans says they would consider cashing in if his valuation is met. The likelihood of a January deal is slim, however.
City don’t sell their best players midway through a season. Since offloading Mario Balotelli (2013) and Stevan Jovetic (2017), the only big departure they sanctioned in January was Ferran Torres (to Barcelona in 2022). Guardiola would be stuck with Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan and Phil Foden in midfield, so he’d need a replacement.
Reports from Spain keep pushing a narrative that Barca will sign Silva, but they have failed so far. Until a bid is lodged that is anywhere near City’s valuation, there’s no chance of him leaving. And with the Spaniards in a lot of debt, it might not come.
In other news, stats show why Pep Guardiola dropped Riyad Mahrez
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