Potential destinations for Bernardo Silva - ranked

Bernardo Silva wants out of Man City
Bernardo Silva wants out of Man City / James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images
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12 months after initially voicing a desire to leave Manchester City, Bernardo Silva is again pushing for an exit.

Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Silva is one of several players keen to leave the Etihad this summer, with a fee of around £60m thought to be enough to tempt City into selling the Portugal international.

Let's take a look at where he could end up.


6. Aston Villa

Dean Smith
Villa aren't signing Silva / RICHARD HEATHCOTE/Getty Images

Mentioned as a suitor purely because they've just come into a cool £100m, Aston Villa just aren't going to sign Silva.

Villa are on the up, there's no doubting that, but they've still got a long way to go before they'll be able to convince someone like Silva to make the move to Villa Park.

They can afford it, but that's as far as this story goes.

5. Arsenal

Mikel Arteta
Arsenal can't afford Silva / Steve Welsh/Getty Images

Earlier in the summer, a move from Arsenal for Silva would have seemed far more plausible than it does now.

The Gunners would have already been facing an uphill battle to land Silva, but even if they could tempt him down to London, they'll have a tough time affording such a deal.

£60m is far too much for a side who have spent more than that already this summer, particularly one who doesn't have Champions League football to top up the bank either.

4. Tottenham

Nuno Espírito Santo
Nuno is leading a rebuild / Marc Atkins/Getty Images

Like Arsenal, Spurs have already spent too much money to be able to spare a cheeky £60m for Silva, but there's a chance they might be able to fund a move for him in another way.

A certain Harry Kane has been heavily linked with a move to City, and if Daniel Levy ever decides he's willing to sell to another English side, picking up Silva in exchange might just be tempting.

Spurs' offer of Europa Conference League football might not be the most appealing prospect for Silva, but there's still an outside chance.

3. Juventus

Massimiliano Allegri
Juventus have some work to do before bidding for Silva / Marco Luzzani/Getty Images

Continuing the trend of financial difficulties, Juventus need to sell before they could buy someone like Silva (or loan with an option to buy, as is the Serie A way).

They do have assets to offload - a list headed by Cristiano Ronaldo and Aaron Ramsey - and if they can manage that, they could land Silva with very little effort. Juve might not be the dominant side they once were, but they still have the same big-name pull as always.

Silva would be a clear upgrade on Federico Bernardeschi and would provide great competition for Federico Chiesa and Dejan Kulusevski, although the fact that he would not be an undisputed starter could well be a problem for him.

2. Atletico Madrid

Diego Pablo Simeone
Simeone is keen on Silva / Soccrates Images/Getty Images

If they end up selling Saul Niguez as expected, Atletico Madrid would have the money needed to move for Silva and would be able to offer him the regular minutes he is looking for.

He'd have to play out wide - the defensive-minded Diego Simeone is never playing a Silva/Rodrigo de Paul midfield duo - and Silva would be an immediate improvement on Atleti's other wide options.

As the reigning La Liga champions, Atleti can offer Silva the sort of success he is looking for, but the biggest obstacle in their pursuit of the Portugal international is that they aren't...

1. Barcelona

Ronald Koeman
Barcelona have been following Silva for a while / Quality Sport Images/Getty Images

Silva is known to favour a move to Barcelona, and Barcelona have been desperate to sign Silva for a while now.

Having released Lionel Messi because of a lack of money, Barcelona could cause a riot if they lodge a £60m bid for Silva, but fans would likely be happier with a swap proposal.

Guardiola has voiced an interest in Sergi Roberto and Ousmane Dembele, so there are the pieces of an agreement there. If the two clubs can meet in the middle, Silva would jump on a plane in a heartbeat.