Man City ‘dramatically’ lower price tag of key player in shock twist, as Barcelona ramp up interest
Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva will reportedly be allowed to leave the Etihad on a reduced fee this summer, amid interest from Barcelona.
The Portugal international has been one of the Cityzen’s most important players since joining the club in 2017, so it will be a big challenge for Pep Guardiola to replace him.
However, the fact that the Premier League champions have reduced Silva’s asking price suggests it is increasingly likely he will leave at the end of the campaign.
According to Sport, City are open to selling Silva for £57m, a ‘dramatically’ lower figure than the £88m fee that had been previously touted.
This will come as a major boost for Barcelona, who have been pushing hard to bring in Silva for the past two years.
However, their financial struggles have meant that they have been unable to meet City’s demands so far, but his new reduced price tag is thought to be affordable for the Catalans.
Silva is one of several top talents who could reportedly leave the Etihad this summer, so Guardiola will have to bring in some quality additions to replace them.
Guardiola already eyeing Silva’s replacement
As mentioned, Silva has been one of Man City’s biggest stars in recent years. Overall, the Portugal international has made 288 appearances for the club across all competitions, scoring 52 goals and making 56 assists.
In a six-year stint at the Etihad, he has helped his side to lift four Premier League titles, one FA Cup, and four League Cups.
This season, Silva has remained a key player under Guardiola, featuring 24 times in the league, scoring four goals and making five assists, most recently netting in a big 2-0 win over Newcastle on Saturday.
The 28-year-old is a versatile player, too, with the ability to play as a central or attacking midfielder, a right winger or even as a left-wing back on occasion, so he could provide cover in a number of areas for Barcelona.
It is believed that Silva is keen to take up a new challenge in Spain. So, now City’s focus must turn to finding a replacement.
As recently reported by TEAMtalk, City have ramped up their interest in highly-rated Brighton midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, who can also play as a central or attacking midfielder, so he could potentially be a viable option.
However, the Seagulls have slapped a hefty £70m price tag on Mac Allister, so the Manchester club will have to put their money where their mouth is to get a deal over the line.
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