Man City U-turn as they 'offer Bernardo Silva to Barca' in £67m deal
Man City ‘offer Bernardo Silva to Barcelona in £67m deal to fund move for Brazilian star Lucas Paqueta’… despite issuing hands-off warning just 10 days ago on their Portuguese playmaker
- City boss Pep Guardiola denied Bernardo Silva could leave just 10 days ago
- Barcelona and PSG remain interested in Silva as City want £67m for playmaker
- City could use the funds to secure in-demand Lyon superstar Lucas Paqueta
- Silva’s City deal runs until 2025 but he is repeatedly linked away from the club
- City have already managed to recoup over £150m from player sales this summer
Manchester City have offered star playmaker Bernardo Silva to Barcelona for £67million in a move that could fund a deal for Lyon star Lucas Paqueta, according to reports.
City boss Pep Guardiola slapped a hands-off warning on the Portuguese midfielder just 10 days ago with both Barca and PSG sniffing around.
But now it seems the blue-half of Manchester has had a change of heart and they could be set to cash-in on the 27-year-old.
Manchester City have reportedly offered Bernardo Silva to Barcelona for £67million
Bernardo Silva was pivotal to Man City’s title win last season appearing in 35 EPL games
A swap deal involving Neymar joining City and Silva heading to Paris was shot down by all parties, but rumours are persisting that the former Monaco man could be departing the Etihad Stadium.
Silva was heavily linked with a move away from City last summer and L’Equipe now claim the Premier League champions have offered Silva to Barcelona themselves.
City have already banked over £150million from selling players this summer with Raheem Sterling, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus the primary sources of income.
It’s also been suggested that Guardiola’s side want to acquire Paqueta.
The sale could hand City the funds to snap up Lyon playmaker Lucas Paqueta (pictured)
The Brazilian has been attracting interest from Premier League sides Arsenal and Newcastle this summer, but the lure of Man City would surely jettison the champions to the head of the queue.
L’Equipe say City are eyeing a £68m deal for Paqueta.
Cash-strapped Barcelona may seem like an outside bet for Silva, but the Catalans keep finding a way to pull deals out of the bag.
The La Liga giants were slow to register Franck Kessie and Andreas Christensen due to the financial implications, but they since gone on to sign Robert Lewandowski, Ralphina and Jules Kounde for nearly a combined £150m.
Silva joined City five years ago for £43.5m and has been one of Guardiola’s most reliable stars
Just a week ago, Barca raised some cash by selling 15 per cent of their domestic television rights to the global investment firm Sixth Street in a deal worth around £268.5m.
A key domino that needs to fall is that of Frenkie de Jong. Xavi’s side appear to be banking on the fact the Dutchman will depart for Manchester United this summer, even though the player himself has stated he wants to stay at the Nou Camp.
It’s believed United were willing to pay £63m to secure the midfielder. Collecting that fee and taking de Jong’s £165,000-a-week wages off the books – and the £17 million they owe him in deferred wages – is crucial to registering the players they have acquired this summer and potentially any others.
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