How will Barcelona line up with Bernardo Silva?
Stuart Telford
- Updated: 28 Aug 2022 11:42 BST
- 3 min read
Barcelona are refusing to give up hope of signing Manchester City's Bernardo Silva. What would their best XI be with the Portugal international in their ranks?
Barcelona have done significant spending already this summer, dropping €160 million on Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Jules Kounde, while signing Andreas Christensen and Franck Kessie on free transfers.
But Bernardo could cost more than any of them, with City slapping a €95m price tag on their midfielder, who is one of Pep Guardiola's favourite players.
Barca might struggle to match that sum currently, but with Pierre-Emerick Aubemyang and Memphis Depay nearing transfers to Chelsea and Manchester United respectively, their €57m budget should grow.
Barcelona with Bernardo?
It would climb enormously if they could offload Frenkie de Jong, one of their highest wage earners who is ranked at €61m by Football Transfers inhouse algorithm. Bernardo would be the perfect replacement for the Dutchman.
De Jong loves taking the ball off the toe of his defender and progressing play. Bernanrdo averaged 10 progressive carries per game for City last season, putting him in the upper 99th percentile for that parameter league-wide.
But Bernardo is also adept at playing further up the pitch, and he could be used either side of striker Lewandowski should Ousmane Dembele or Raphinha begin to struggle with injuries as Ansu Fati has.
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Lewandowski is now the undisputed centre forward following his €50m arrival from Bayern Munich, and now has two goals from his opening two La Liga games - hence Aubameyang and Memphis are for sale.
At the back, Kounde is finally registered for official competition following his July arrival from Sevilla. Whom between him and Ronal Araujo deputises at right-back with Xavi not trusting Sergino Dest remains to be seen.
Xavi wanted a squad capable of striking fear into any opponent, and with Bernardo added to the Camp Nou ranks, he might soon have it.
