PSG’s Bernardo Silva interest is good news for Chelsea and Man Utd

Robin Bairner

3 Aug 2022 12:17 BST
3 min read

Bernardo Silva, Man CIty, 2022/23 — © ProShots

PSG have taken an interest in Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva – and this promises to have a knock-on effect for Chelsea and Manchester United, who are both interested in signing Frenkie de Jong from Barcelona.

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Barca are the club leading the way to sign Portugal international Silva, who is known to want a route out of City. A deal is unlikely to be concluded with the Camp Nou side much before the end of the transfer window as they seek solutions to their tough economic position.

Barcelona appear to have mastered their transfer window perfectly, securing big-money additions in the form of Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski and Jules Kounde. All three appeared impossible to sign, yet the Camp Nou side are primed to begin next season with these three stars in their ranks plus Andreas Christensen and Franck Kessie, who joined up on free transfers.

President Joan Laporta, meanwhile, has stated that head coach Xavi wants more additions and has suggested that Bernardo Silva is one of those he is interested in signing.

As Ben Jacobs has indicated, however, this move is only likely to take place should Barcelona sell De Jong.

PSG can stir Barca into De Jong action

Foot Mercato, though, suggests that PSG are interested in Bernardo Silva, which would force the Catalan side into making a decision over the Dutchman. Either they keep De Jong, knowing that he would be in a stronger position to reject a pay cut with their top replacement potentially going elsewhere, or offload him with the certainty of securing a player they already have buy-in from.

Barcelona remain well positioned in this case. Although Bernardo Silva has worked with PSG sporting director Luis Campos previously at Monaco and would fit the bill for the type of crafty forward-thinking player the Parisians need, they are also dramatically overstocked in that area of the field.

Gini Wijnaldum is heading to Roma on loan, but the Dutchman’s exit solves only a small part of the problem, with Ander Herrera, Leandro Paredes, Julian Draxler and Raphinha all still weighing heavily on their books.

Barcelona, though, could soon be stirred into action over De Jong if there proves substance to PSG’s Bernardo Silva links. At least, then, Chelsea and Man Utd will know where they stand over the Netherlands midfielder.