Bernardo Silva Next Club Odds: Man City Evens to keep Portuguese playmaker

Having been linked with a move away from Manchester City, we take a look at where Bernardo Silva could be playing next season.

Fresh off the back of winning the treble, Pep Guardiola looks set to break up much of the squad.

Ilkay Gundogan is set to move to Barcelona, Kyle Walker only has a year to run on his contract, Joao Cancelo was allowed to leave on loan in January and is surplus to requirements, while Josko Gvardiol will likely replace Aymeric Laporte.

We’re no longer surprised by Guardiola happily letting go of players who were seemingly important members of the first team; Leroy Sane was sold to Bayern after making 47 appearances the previous season; David Silva was allowed to leave on a free after making 40 appearances; Ferran Torres was City’s starting centre forward in 2021 before Barcelona signed the Spaniard for £50m; last summer, Raheem Sterling, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus were all allowed to leave.

Should Gundogan, Walker, Laporte and Silva all leave, it’s 121 Premier League appearances from last season that Guardiola will be tasked with replacing.

Silva in particular would be a big miss. Still only 28, there’s plenty still in the tank and as a player who’s equally as comfortable on the right wing cutting onto his left foot as in the middle of the park, he won’t be easy to replace.

Not just popular with manager and fans, he’s clearly popular with his team-mates, with Jack Grealish filmed begging the Portuguese not to leave during the side’s treble celebrations, but Guardiola seems all too happy to constantly rebuild while City are strong.

Bernardo Silva next club odds:

• Man City - 1/1
• PSG - 11/4
• Barcelona - 11/4
• Any Saudi Arabian team - 4/1
   

Of course, it will take a sizeable bid to prise Silva away from the Etihad, with £70m the figure being reported.

The former Benfica player has been strongly mooted to join the likes of Karim Benzema and N'Golo Kante in accepting a money-spinning contract to move to the Saudi Pro League, with Silva 4/1 to join any Saudi team before September 3rd.

PSG are priced at 11/4, with the Portuguese capable of adding more natural balance to the PSG side that had to fit in Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe last season.

While Mbappe’s more comfortable on the left with Messi on the right, the Argentine would typically drift into more central areas, while Silva is more comfortable stretching the play.

The departure of Messi – and potential departure of at least one of Mbappe and Neymar will free up a sizeable chunk of PSG’s wage bill, which should facilitate the move to the Ligue 1 champions.

Spanish champions Barcelona are also priced at 11/4 to sign Bernardo Silva, with Xavi's side eager to fend off the threat from their fierce rivals Real Madrid and retain their La Liga title.

The Portuguese international is given odds of 1/1 to remain with Guardiola's City come the end of the window.

Liam Williams

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