Bernardo Silva will be proactive about trying to force an exit to Barcelona next summer if the club are still interested in a transfer, according to reports.
The Portuguese midfielder was said to be mulling over a move to the Nou Camp before the start of this season with discussions even being held, albeit no offer was ever made. In September, Silva’s dad, Paulo, confirmed there had been contact from the La Liga giants.
He said: “There were a lot of talks, but no concrete offer was made at the times we thought were right. When it arrived, we realised that it was no longer the right time for all parties involved.”
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Now, according to Sport, the 28-year-old has told Barcelona that he may look to push for a transfer at the end of the season. It adds Manchester City have offered Silva a renewal deal with Pep Guardiola keen to keep hold of the player.
However, he wants to see whether cash-troubled Barca still want him before rejecting the proposal. A January exit for the World Cup playmaker - whose current deal expires in 2025 - is deemed very unlikely given Barcelona’s relegation to the Europa League following a dismal Champions League campaign.
Meanwhile, Football Insider reports that City will refuse to sell any more players to Mikel Arteta at Arsenal. This summer, both Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko departed for the Gunners who now lead the Premier League by five points. Guardiola is eager not to allow more of his players to leave for the Emirates given Arsenal’s great start to the season.
Jesus has scored five times and assisted seven more since his £54million transfer while £30million Zinchenko’s time in London has been hampered by knee and calf injuries. Former assistant Arteta and Guardiola share a good relationship given their successes together.
However, questions are now being raised about why the club was willing to allow two players to join top-six rivals Arsenal given their season’s performance.
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