Barcelona ready to use Frenkie De Jong in transfer bid for Manchester City star
Robin Bairner
- 6 May 2022 16:11 BST
- 3 min read
Barcelona are closely monitoring Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva and will consider making a transfer bid for him this summer.
Mundo Deportivo reports that the Catalan side have pinpointed the Portugal international star as a valuable addition to their side, having watched him star in the Premier League for Pep Guardiola’s side.
Barca appreciate that any deal will be difficult to conclude and they are ready to use Frenkie de Jong as a bargaining chip in negotiations.
Xavi appears to be the driving force behind the push to sign Silva, who signed for City from Monaco in 2017 for a fee of €50 million. He has since gone on to play on 248 occasions for the Premier League club, scoring 48 goals and creating 50.
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How likely Bernardo to Barcelona?
The prospects of City allowing such a player to leave, however, are slim. Bernardo has been a regular in the team that has pushed its way to the top of the Premier League team, starting all but a handful of their domestic games. He also played a significant role in their run to the semi-finals of the Champions League, notably scoring one and creating another as they fell to Real Madrid.
Meanwhile, De Jong is a player who could potentially catch the eye of Man City manager Pep Guardiola, who likes his brand of tidy midfield player. The Netherlands star, though, is unlikely to be a priority for the Etihad side, with Manchester United having been credited with more of an interest in the former Ajax man.
Barcelona’s willingness to give De Jong up is apparent – despite recent words to the contrary from Xavi – with the head coach supposedly seeking an additional attacking midfield option from a more central role.
Bernardo to Barcelona, then, looks a slim prospect.
