FC Barcelona ‘Optimistic’ On Signing Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva

FC Barcelona are optimistic about signing Bernardo Silva from Manchester City before the end of the current transfer window.

The Catalans have raised eyebrows this summer by landing a number of high profile players such as Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Jules Kounde despite having debts of around $1.5bn.

This has been made possible by the activation of a series of ‘economic levers’, with two of them coming in the way of selling 25% of the club’s television rights to American investment firm Sixth Street.

Earlier this week, the Blaugrana also raised a further €100mn ($102mn) by offloading 24.5% of Barca Studios to fan token site socios.com.

It is thought that with this, Barca can now register their new signings and those that have renewed their contracts.

But attention is now turning to an assault on City for Silva, and it is said by SPORT that first team coach Xavi Hernandez won’t be satisfied with his burgeoning squad until it can also boast the Portuguese international in its arsenal.

Barca are said to be able to land the 27-year-old for a fee of around €80mn ($81.5mn) but are waiting for La Liga’s interpretation of their finances before making a final push for Silva.

In any case, it is only by Frenkie de Jong leaving that the Dutchman’s fellow midfielder can arrive in Catalonia.

But there should also be increased optimism on this front too given that Chelsea are now interested in him and are reportedly close to making an offer.

Manchester United were previously De Jong’s only suitor, as their new coach Erik ten Hag longed for a reunion with his former Ajax charge.

Yet the lack of Champions League football on show, with no guarantee that the Red Devils will qualify for Europe’s premier club tournament in 2023/2024, have made a 25-year-old reaching his perceived peak in a few years reluctant to wallow in the inferior Europa League.

As winners in 2021 against Silva’s City, Chelsea can grant De Jong access to the UCL and are also far more likely to challenge for the PremierPINC
League title unlike City’s cross-town rivals who are now five years without winning a major trophy.