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By Martin Graham | 23rd Mar 2023
Paris Saint-Germain have identified Portuguese midfielder Bernardo Silva as their ‘number one target’ this summer following the 28-year-old’s desire to exit Manchester City in the summer.
Silva joined Pep Guardiola’s side from AS Monaco in 2017 after impressing with the French side in the UEFA Champions League alongside Kylian Mbappe and a host of others who moved on to various clubs. He has since gone on to hold down a starting berth at City and stamped his authority on the Portugal national team, winning trophies along the way.
After six mega-successful seasons at the Etihad, the diminutive midfielder is ready for a new challenge and the world around him is aware of it. His current contract runs until the summer of 2025 but he is ready to jet out two years before it ends, which could see City make good money from his transfer.
A couple of clubs have already approached the midfielder and his entourage as well as City. However, they have been rebuffed by the club, who consider him a valuable asset for their goals. Their stance is reportedly softening on the issue and this could see Silva exit the Etihad sooner than later.
PSG have now thrown their hat in the ring for the former Monaco man. They have also prioritised his signing to shore up the gaps in their midfield, per reports. They will present a huge challenge to Barcelona, who have been at the forefront of the clubs looking to sign Silva for the past two seasons.
The Catalan club are in a very famous financial imbroglio and it has led to their limited ability to make the signings they seem necessary. With the financial might of PSG now in the ring, it looks like they could be missing out on a player who has also expressed – and is still expressing – keenness to join them.
Arsenal and Atlético de Madrid are two other clubs who could lose out on Silva should the reports of PSG’s decision to prioritise his signing turn out to be true.
PSG’s sporting director Luis Campos is the man pushing for the move. The Portugal native was the man responsible for bringing Silva to Ligue 1 in 2015 to play for Monaco and has convinced his current bosses that the midfielder will fit right into the team.
His €80 million price tag will not faze the French giants. However, they will try to negotiate for a lesser price as is done in football transfer business.
It remains to be seen if Silva will choose a move back to France, however, with his sights still set on a Barcelona move and the Catalan’s reported constant communications with his entourage.
Martin Graham is an MFF sports writer
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