Paris Saint-Germain determined to sign Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva
Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly determined to sign Manchester City playmaker Bernardo Silva this summer.
The 28-year-old has been strongly linked with an exit from the Etihad Stadium for some time, and revealed in January that he would be open to beginning a “new project”.
“I won’t hide that my goal in the coming years, if something good happens elsewhere, will probably be to move to a new project,” Bernardo told Record.
The Portugal international has also acknowledged that he has aspirations of returning to boyhood club Benfica, where he began his career and made just three senior appearances before joining Monaco in 2015.
“Going into a new project at the age of 29, I’ll only finish this contract probably at 34,” Bernardo added. “If you ask me: what did you think 10 years ago? My goal was to return to Benfica at the age of 32 at the most. What do I think today? It depends on what happens next summer.
“I’m not going to lie, it’s not something I don’t think about. I think about it every year. It has always been a goal.”
However, a big-money move for Bernardo to either PSG or Barcelona has been mooted for several months, and Relevo claims that the former have identified the playmaker as their primary target this summer.
The report adds that PSG advisor Luis Campos is determined to lure City’s No.20 to Paris, with the Ligue 1 giants aware of the player’s desire to seek pastures new.
PSG are said to have failed with a €70m (£61.7m) bid to sign Bernardo towards the end of last summer, with City demanding a figure closer to €90m (£79.4m).
Bernardo, who is under contract at the Etihad until June 2025, is now believed to be valued between €70m (£61.9m) and €80m (£70.1m) by the Citizens, demands that could prevent cash-strapped Barcelona from tabling a summer offer.
PSG could therefore have a clear run at signing Bernardo, although it is understood that Real Madrid could join the race if they lose out to Man City in their pursuit of Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham.
Bernardo is currently away on international duty with Portugal ahead of their Euro 2024 qualifiers against Liechtenstein and Luxembourg, and the Lisbon-born playmaker has insisted that he is not fazed by rumours about his future.
“It’s not the moment to talk about my future with three months left of the season, I’m very focused on Man City,” Bernardo told Arab News as quoted by journalist Fabrizio Romano.
“Links and speculation don’t affect me. I try my best and what happens, happens – we have many things to fight for”.
PSG are also said to be interested in signing Napoli goal machine Victor Osimhen, who is set to become one of the most sought-after strikers this summer after netting 25 goals in 29 games for the Serie A leaders.
The likes of Man City, Manchester United and Chelsea have also been credited with an interest in the 24-year-old Nigerian, who is valued by Napoli in the region of £150m.
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