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Manchester City have reportedly identified a potential replacement for Bernardo Silva, should the midfield star leave the club this summer.
Silva has become a key member of Pep Guardiola’s squad since signing for the Etihad club in the summer of 2017 for a reported fee of €50 million.
While the 27-year-old joined City as an attacking midfielder and winger who excelled in the box, he has evolved into a superb box to box midfielder, with a famously high level of energy.
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Despite being so important to City’s recent domestic success, Silva has long been linked with a move away from the club, with most reports suggesting that the Portugal international desires a move to Spain, closer to home.
La Liga giants Barcelona have been rumoured to be very interested in signing Silva, but City’s reported price tag of €80 million or more has priced the Catalonian club out of any deal.
However, with Silva’s very public desire to explore new pastures, the Premier League champions will have to look towards the inevitability that he departs the club in the coming months, or years.
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As a result, City have begun to line up some potential replacements for the midfield star.
According to L’equipe, City are considering Olympique Lyonnais midfielder, Lucas Paqueta as a potential signing if, and when Silva leaves the club.
The Brazilian has impressed since joining the Ligue 1 side in 2020 after a disappointing spell at AC Milan. In the time since, Paqueta has accumulated a tally of 20 goals and 13 assists in 76 appearances for the Groupama club.
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As per the report from the French outlet, Paqueta has agreed to leave the club if Lyon president Jean Michael-Aulus should decide to cash in on one of his most prized assets.
However, Lyon’s sale of Tanguay Ndombele to Tottenham Hotspur for €60 million currently stands as the club’s record sale, and Michael-Aulus could be keen on breaking that record in a sale of Paqueta.
At the age of 24, Paqueta is in the stage of his career that City prefer with their signings, with plenty of room to develop.
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However, replacing a player as key as Silva will be a tall task, even for a club with such recruiting excellence as the Etihad club.
His performances over the last 12 months has elevated his status amongst Europe's best midfielders even further.
On the individual accolade front, the Portuguese international was named among multiple City stars in the PFA Team of the Year for 2021/22.
Popping up with some crucial goals - particularly around Christmas - his influence on Guardiola's side cannot be underestimated.
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There's no surprise that Barcelona are heavily interested in SIlva, but getting any deal over the line would be incredibly difficult.
Featured Image Credit: Aflo Co. Ltd. / AlamyTopics: Manchester City, Lyon, Premier League, Manchester City Transfer News & Rumours, Bernardo Silva
