Man City ‘offered PSG trio’ in Bernardo swap deal as Arsenal give helping hand

Grading Man City's 2022 summer transfer business

Manchester City have reportedly been offered one of three players in exchange for Bernardo Silva as Paris Saint-Germain ramp up negotiations for the Portuguese. Arsenal’s big-money move for Declan Rice may just help their Premier League rivals keep hold of Bernardo, with Pep Guardiola believed to be using his transfer fee as a benchmark.

The Gunners set a new British transfer record by laying out £105million for Rice, whose arrival at the Emirates Stadium was confirmed last week. Reports indicate that City value Bernardo at a similar figure, given his prominent role in last season’s remarkable treble win.

Such a hefty price tag is sure to boost Guardiola’s hopes of keeping the 28-year-old, who has made at least 50 appearances in all bar one season since joining City in 2017.

Despite murmurs that Bernardo has wanted to leave the Etihad Stadium for some time, the Sky Blues aren’t about to let him go on the cheap. According to Foot Mercato, the most recent transfer offer lodged by PSG is deemed ‘too low’.

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It remains to be seen whether the Ligue 1 giants are willing to move towards the nine-figure mark desired by City, with super agent Jorge Mendes pushing hard for the deal to go through.

The Sky Blues have reportedly been offered Marco Verratti, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Presnel Kimpembe as part of negotiations, but they have so far refused to play ball.

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Midfielder Verratti and centre-back Kimpembe are both veterans of the PSG set-up, while 24-year-old Donnarumma is a prominent goalkeeper on the European stage, having broken through into senior football soon after turning 16.

But senior figures at the Etihad are evidently keen to extract the maximum from selling Bernardo, if he is allowed to leave at all. Potentially weakening Guardiola’s squad could come with serious consequences in 2023/24, given how close Arsenal came to winning the title last campaign.

The Gunners have strengthened already this summer with the arrivals of Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber and Rice taking their transfer spending beyond the £200m mark.

City, by comparison, have spent modestly, with Mateo Kovacic the only major signing so far despite the departure of last season’s treble-winning captain Ilkay Gundogan.

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