Manchester City 'Offer Bernardo Silva To Barcelona In £67m Deal To Fund Bid For Brazilian Star'

Manchester City have reportedly offered Bernardo Silva to Barcelona for £67m in order to fund a bid for Lyon midfielder Lucas Paqueta.

Silva was one of City's stand-out players last season but has been continually linked with a move away from the Etihad, with Barcelona and PSG admirers of the midfielder.

Reports had previously claimed that City boss Pep Guardiola was unwilling to sell Silva this summer, having already allowed Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko to leave the club.

But the Premier League champions appear to have changed their stance and are now willing to consider selling the Portugal international – for the right price.

French publication L'Equipe claim City have themselves offered Silva to Barcelona, slapping a £67m price tag on the former Monaco man.

And the same report claims City are considering a bid for Lyon star Paqueta.

Brazil international Paqueta has scored 20 goals in 76 games for Lyon since joining the Ligue 1 side from AC Milan in 2020.

City are reportedly interested in Lyon's Lucas Paqueta (Image: Alamy)

He has also made 33 appearances for the Brazilian national side, scoring seven times.

Arsenal and Newcastle United have also been linked with the attacking midfielder, who is said be valued at around £68m by Lyon.

City could make a move for the Brazilian if Silva leaves this summer but it is unclear if Barcelona would be able to afford to pay the Premier League club's desired transfer fee for the Portuguese.

The cash-strapped Catalan club signed Franck Kessie and Andreas Christensen on free transfers earlier in the window but have now splashed out almost £150m on Robert Lewandowski, Ralphina and Jules Kounde.

Arsenal and Newcastle United have also been linked with the Brazilian (Image: Alamy)

Barcelona were able to make those signings after selling 15 per cent of their domestic television rights to the global investment firm Sixth Street, in a deal worth around £268.5m.

However, any further signings could depend on the sale of Frenkie de Jong.

Manchester United remain keen to sign the Netherlands international and are believed to be willing to pay £63m for the midfielder.

But De Jong is currently locked in a dispute with Barcelona over a £17m payment he is owed by the club in deferred wages.