Now that Monaco have clinched their first Ligue 1 title since 2000 and have nothing left to play for, the transfer rumours involving 75% of their squad can fully get under way.
Of course, a certain Kylian Mbappé will be the centre of attention, but with the likes of Bernardo Silva, Tiemoué Bakayoko, Fabinho and Benjamin Mendy are all also being heavily linked with a move away from the State Louis II this summer.
Focusing on the diminutive Portuguese playmaker, the favoured destination for the press has been Manchester United all season, with Le10 Sport making the strongest claims earlier on in the year, stating the Red Devils already had ‘some kind of agreement’ in place to sign the Jorge Mendes client.
A few others have played along with the idea of Silva joining Mourinho at Old Trafford, and Canal+ on Wednesday night continued with it.
Relayed by Le Figaro, the French TV channel claimed Bernardo Silva was ‘very likely’ to join Manchester United in the summer.
Considering how big Canal+ are in France, it’s likely there’s something there, even if that by no means it’s a done deal.
It’s worth pointing out that in May 2015, when Morgan Schneiderlin was almost an Arsenal player according to the media, InfoSport, part of the Canal+ group, tweeted: ‘INFO @infosportplus: Morgan #Schneiderlin (midfielder #Southampton) very close to #ManUnited rather than #Arsenal.’
Silva has even added a bit to the speculation by stating after the final whistle against Saint-Etienne that despite him being ‘very happy at Monaco, anything is possible’.
Considering Monaco paid €15.75m in the first place to acquire the Portuguese playmaker’s services and how much he’s developed since then, this is likely to be an expensive transfer regardless of where he ends up.
With Manchester United briefing the English media there was no interest in James Rodriguez, Bernardo Silva seems like the ideal alternative, meaning we’re destined for this being one of the stories of the summer.
