Manchester United have made a breakthrough in their attempts to sign Frenkie de Jong from Barcelona this summer with the Catalan giants signalling they already have a replacement lined up.
United have not given up hope on a deal to land the Dutch international star despite negotiations over the structure of a deal now entering their third month and with the commencement of the 2022/23 campaign less than a week away.
Red Devils transfer chiefs Richard Arnold and John Murtough visited the Catalan capital last month to meet with Barca officials and conclude the De Jong transfer but left without a final agreement in place. However, an initial fee of £56.2million is in place with a total transfer increasing up to £72million.
Barca president Joan Laporta has now confirmed that the club will attempt to sign Manchester City star Bernardo Silva after a report in Mundo Deportivo outlined how he was at the top of the club’s wish list to replace De Jong. Despite often operating in a front three for City, the Portugal international could theoretically replace the former Ajax star in the club’s midfield.
Laporta said on Monday at the presentation of defender Jules Kounde – signed from Sevilla – when asked specifically about a move for Silva: "First we have to register the players and get rid of those who don't count. Then we'll see what we can do." It was not the outright denial of a move that could have been said to pour cold water on any rumours.
Silva has bagged 48 goals across 251 first-team appearances for City since his transfer from Monaco in 2017 and has flourished under Guardiola's coaching. However, last season he enjoyed more prominence than ever – with a career-high 33 Premier League starts and eight Premier League goals while starting in 11 of the club's 12 Champions League matches.
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Guardiola acknowledged interest from Barca in the player earlier this year and despite his insistence of wanting to keep the star, he did not take up the chance to rule out a switch: "Today I think Bernardo Silva will stay. But as I've always said, from my time at Barca, I don't want players who don't want to be at my club. What I can say is that Bernardo is important to us."
Silva featured in 50 games for City last season in which he scored 13 goals and provided seven assists, so it is easy to see why Barca boss Xavi Hernandez is such a fan. However, Laporta’s priority is to register new players for this season.
Andreas Christensen, Franck Kessie, Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski and Kounde have all joined Barca’s ranks this summer as the club look to immediately challenge for major honours again after a three-season drought of the title in La Liga and without a Champions League final appearance since 2015.
