Barcelona line up two alternatives if €50m-rated winger leaves | OneFootball

The rumours surrounding Manchester City players departing for Barcelona have become a staple this week. As is well-known by now, Barcelona have not had particularly smooth-sailing renewal negotiations with their winger Ousmane Dembele.

The Frenchman has remained rather non-committal about his future with the Catalans, leading to constant speculation regarding an exit, with an array of suitors reportedly lined up for his services once he returns from the Euros with France.

Now, according to TV3’s Oriol Domenech, Manchester City stars Bernardo Silva and Riyad Mahrez are among the options Barcelona have in mind to replace Dembele should he refuse to sign a new contract. The Citizens’ pair have been linked previously, with Silva reportedly being very keen to play for the Blaugrana in the past.

The deals would naturally be tricky given the magnitude of Barcelona’s debt, even if they were to recoup some funds from Dembele’s sale. Silva has now become the third City winger to be linked to Barcelona after Mahrez and Raheem Sterling over a week ago.

Bernardo Silva’s contract with the reigning Premier League champions runs on till June 2025, while Mahrez has a deal in place till 2023. This means neither of the two will come cheap for the Blaugrana. Plots regarding swap deals have become very prominent in reports of late, which may be the only way of the duo arrives at Barcelona.

The situation regarding further transfer activity on this end will clear up further only when Dembele returns from the Euros and completes discussions over an extension.