How PSG can derail Barcelona's Bernardo Silva transfer

Ben Jacobs

• Updated: 25 Aug 2022 01:12 CDT
• 3 min read

Paris Saint-Germain could hold all the cards to Barcelona's pursuit of Bernardo Silva, writes CBS reporter Ben Jacobs.

PSG are interested in Silva, in particular sporting director Luis Campos really likes him, having brought him to Ligue 1 with Monaco initially.

But the question is down to Silva, because he really likes playing at Manchester City under Pep Guardiola.

Barcelona is his dream move so would he leave for PSG rather than just staying at Manchester City? At the moment, sources close to Silva are indicating that he wants Barcelona or nothing.

Intriguingly, PSG can also tactically block Barcelona out the market just by their interest, because they can go to City and say 'we're prepared to pay €75 million' and suddenly that's the minimum that Barcelona would have to pay.

If PSG say 'we'll pay €85m or €100m' then Barcelona could be in big trouble because they wouldn't be able to match the bid.

This isn't a Raphinha-style situation where Bernardo is going to go to City and say 'don't sell me to PSG for €100m, sell me to Barca for €70m'.

Bernardo won't force an exit and he will be respectful of City's asking price even though he would like the Barcelona move.

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PSG's interest in Rashford and Silva is real

The PSG interest is very real, in the sense that they like the player, but it remains to be seen whether Silva will want to move to PSG.

At the moment he is only thinking of City or Barca and something would have to change in the remainder of the window to alter that line of thinking.

There's definitely some substance to the speculation though, it is similar to the story of Marcus Rashford to PSG. It is far more than just a rumour.

An approach has been made and an enquiry to determine the valuation is out there at the PSG end but there is nothing more than that at this stage.