Barcelona ‘follow’ Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva ahead of the summer as they look to add another midfielder to Xavi’s squad.
That’s according to Mundo Deportivo, who say that the Portuguese star was open to the move last summer when Barcelona also looked at him.
The newspaper explain that Barcelona are looking to bring in top-class players in the summer, and manager Xavi wants a ‘top’ alternative in midfield as he considers having such a player as key to his plans.
One of the ‘most liked’ players for this is Silva, who has shined for Manchester City this season, playing in a more central role.
On the face of it, he is the ‘complicated option’ for the Catalans, but their chances are boosted by the fact Silva is ‘still thinking’ of leaving the Etihad.
That was certainly the case last summer, when the player was keen to leave England and open to a move to La Liga, which would take him closer to his family.
Barcelona looked at a deal then but did not get anything over the line, and Silva has instead been one of Manchester City’s best players this season, establishing himself as a key player under Pep Guardiola.
He’s keen to keep him, and there has been talk of a new contract this summer, but the Spanish coach will not keep a player who does not want to be there.
One potential ‘bargaining chip’ is Frenkie de Jong, and a swap deal between the pair could be ‘considered’, and there has been talk of that happening in England. Barcelona, though, will only let De Jong leave if a top-level midfielder arrives to replace him.
There would have to be plenty of negotiating between Barcelona and Manchester City to get that deal over the line, but super-agent Jorge Mendes could help ‘facilitate’ that.
He has a good relationship with both clubs, and his presence means it is better ‘not to take anything for granted’ and assume everything is on the table.
