Man City star Bernardo Silva wanted by Barcelona in summer transfer ‘as Pep Guardiola demands £57.5m for midfielder’
BERNARDO SILVA remains a transfer target for Barcelona, reports claim.
The Spanish giants have been linked with the Manchester City star in the last two transfer windows.
And, finances allowing, they will step up their efforts to sign him at the end of the season, according to Sport.
A transfer last summer wasn’t possible as Frenkie de Jong ended up staying at Barcelona amid strong interest from Manchester United.
City then reportedly rejected a £62million bid in January as they did not want to lose Silva, 28, mid-season.
But Sport say a £57.5m offer at the end of the campaign would be enough to secure his signature.
City are reported to have told Silva’s agent Jorge Mendes that a £57.5m offer would be accepted.
Silva, who came off the bench to score in City’s 2-0 win over Newcastle on Saturday, is claimed to be open to a move.
He will have two years left on his Etihad deal at the end of the season.
And the Portuguese playmaker is eyeing a new challenge after six years in Manchester.
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He told Record earlier this year: “I’m very focused on this season and it doesn’t make sense to talk about leaving because we’re in the middle of the season.”
He added: “I won’t hide that my goal in the coming years, if something good happens elsewhere, will probably be to move to a new project.”
However, funding a move for Silva could be difficult.
Barcelona have effectively been hit with a transfer ban this summer because of their financial woes.
Speaking at the FT Business of Football summit in London, LaLiga chief executive Javier Tebas confirmed: “As of today, Barcelona doesn’t have any room in its budget to spend in the upcoming transfer window.
“Barcelona has been involved in questionable behaviour which has had an impact on LaLiga – and we are acting accordingly.”