Real Madrid identify £50 million Manchester City midfielder as Luka Modric replacement in major transfer coup | OneFootball

Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva has emerged as a summer transfer target for Real Madrid.

The 29-year-old, who scored at the Santiago Bernabéu earlier this month for Manchester City, missed a penalty against Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final shoot-out at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday evening.

Silva and Mateo Kovacic both missed spot kicks for Pep Guardiola’s side, who suffered their earliest exit from the Champions League since 2020 in midweek, losing 3-4 on penalties after a scintillating 4-4 aggregate draw.

The Portugal midfielder scored the winning goal on Saturday evening however, bouncing back from Wednesday’s disappointment by netting at Wembley Stadium in the Emirates FA Cup semi-final victory over Chelsea.

Silva smashed Manchester City into successive FA Cup finals with an 84th minute goal, as the Sky Blues bid to complete a domestic double by winning both the Premier League title and FA Cup.

The final weeks of the campaign could be the midfielder’s last in England, with a £50 million release clause leading to growing transfer interest from across Europe in signing the Portuguese star this summer.

Both Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain have been linked with renewing their interest in signing the 28-year-old, despite Silva penning a new contract until 2026 at the Etihad Stadium in September.

La Liga has been widely mooted as a desired destination of Silva’s, however Barcelona’s continued financial problems are expected to impact any transfer ambitions for a third consecutive summer window.

Real Madrid don’t have such issues, and the La Liga leaders have reportedly identified Silva as a potential replacement for Luka Modric, with the 38-year-old rumoured to be considering retiring at the end of the season.

The Daily Star claim that Los Blancos are ready to ‘swoop’ for Silva, regarding the versatile midfielder as a ‘perfect fit’ at the Santiago Bernabéu.

The Saudi Pro League have previously tabled offers to Silva, meanwhile Manchester City have also rejected past offers from PSG for the 28-year-old.

The midfielder has also been linked with a return to boyhood club Benfica, however the £50 million price tag looks set to hamper any imminent return to the Liga Portugal club.