According to reports, Bernardo Silva will be traded for by Paris Saint-Germain in a blockbuster two-player deal. The Parisians plan to “give Marco Verratti and Gianluigi Donnarumma” in exchange for the Man City star.
The 28-year-old has been connected to a number of teams, and there is growing speculation that he would be leaving the Etihad. According to an earlier claim from Mail Sport, Al Hilal had offered Silva a contract for £75 million per season.
With the midfielder’s £150,000-per-week contract set to expire in 2025, Barcelona was another team last week to rekindle their long-standing interest in him. City has increased its efforts to retain him while doing so, and has presented him with a better contract.
However, Foot Mercato claims that Luis Enrique’s team is attempting to lure the Champions League-winning midfielder away from Pep Guardiola’s club by making an elite offer for Verratti and Donnarumma.
Verratti would undoubtedly aid in replenishing their midfield supplies after Barcelona today revealed Ilkay Gundogan, and Donnarumma would also provide Ederson in goal some competition.
The publication asserts that “optimism is in order for PSG, especially as the player is willing to join the French capital,” and that Luis Campos, the club’s sporting director, has been “testing the waters” with Txiki Begiristain, City’s director of football, by floating the names of a number of players they could do a swap with.
Man City’s response, according to the publication, was a “fast categorical refusal,” although it also states that “discussions will continue.”
Given Silva’s importance to Guardiola’s treble-winning team this year, it will undoubtedly take some effort to pry the Portuguese midfielder from his team.
In 306 games across all competitions since his £43 million transfer from Monaco in 2017, he has contributed 55 goals and 59 assists for the Citizens.
He has been a standout for City just this season, scoring seven goals in 55 games and playing a key role in their Champions League final victory over Inter Milan.
Following Lionel Messi’s departure, PSG had earlier this year named him as their top target.
Intriguingly, Mail Sport earlier stated that City would only be interested in moving Silva to PSG if they offered developing teenage talent Warren Zaire-Emery in exchange, with City valuing Silva at around £70 million.