Manchester City have considered Inter Milan midfielder Nicolo Barella as a potential replacement for Bernardo Silva.
That’s according to a recent report from 90min.
Bernardo Silva has played a central role in City’s successes during the Pep Guardiola era, but the Portuguese midfielder could leave the club by the end of the summer.
The 28-year-old expressed his desire to leave the club last summer, but he had to stay put after City received no acceptable offers for him.
Bernardo enjoyed an incredible 2022/23 campaign which culminated in City winning the treble, but once again his representatives have told City of his wish to leave.
Barcelona is Bernardo’s preferred destination, but it appears extremely unlikely that the Spanish giants will be able to afford him this summer due to their financial situation.
Paris Saint-Germain have also been linked, and are more likely to be able to meet City’s £70m asking price.
City are adamant that they do not want to sell Bernardo, especially after already losing Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez this summer.
His teammates don’t want to see him go either.
Pep Guardiola has shown in the past that he is willing to let key players leave, but in this case, it appears he feels that Bernardo is too important to his side.
City look at Barella
It has been reported that City now consider the 28-year-old ‘untransferable’, but that hasn’t stopped them from compiling a shortlist of potential replacements.
According to 90min, City bosses identified Inter Milan midfielder Nicolo Barella as a potential candidate to replace Bernardo.
Joshua Kimmich is another name that City have been considering.
However, the fact that neither Kimmich nor Barella are available this summer has reinforced the need for City to double down and keep Silva.
According to 90min, City will attempt to appease Bernardo by offering him one of the biggest contracts in the club’s history.
While Bernardo’s current deal doesn’t expire until 2025, City want to reflect his importance to the team by putting him in the same pay bracket as Erling Haaland and Kevin de Bruyne.
