Bernardo Silva’s Manchester City exit thrown into jeopardy as release clause deemed ‘excessive’ by potential suitor | OneFootball

Manchester City’s release clause on Bernardo Silva – agreed last summer – has reportedly now been deemed ‘excessive’ by one of his most likely potential suitors.

The Portugal international has long been linked with a move away from Pep Guardiola’s squad, having understood to have fallen out of love with the lifestyle and culture on offer to both him and his young family in England.

Bernardo Silva has been a huge success since first arriving at Manchester City from AS Monaco in the summer of 2017, winning multiple Premier League titles and a maiden UEFA Champions League honour, whilst being integral to all of those achievements.

However, while Manchester City have always taken the stance that they would be open to listening to offers for the now 29-year-old, any proposals from interested parties must meet their demands on a financial front.

One such club continuously linked with an interest and serious move for Bernardo Silva is FC Barcelona, who are understood to be a serious option for the Portugal international himself, should they come close to City’s requirements for a deal.

Now, according to the information of SPORT’s Toni Juanmarti, Bernardo Silva is said to be ‘not a priority’ for Barcelona this summer despite being an ‘option on the table’, with the sale of players first required as well as the lowering of a transfer fee below his £50 million clause.

The report points out that ‘people around’ the City midfielder say that a decision will be made when the ongoing Premier League season concludes, despite the situation being ‘obvious’: Bernardo Silva wants to leave the Etihad Stadium ‘even more so now’ than last summer’.

SPORT further highlights other concerns from within Barcelona, specifically the fact that Bernardo Silva turns 30 in August, and the La Liga side ‘already has a player with similar characteristics’ in former City captain Ilkay Gündogan.

Connected to the aforementioned factor, the report further reveals that Barça believe Bernardo Silva’s £50 million release clause is ‘excessive’, and through a ‘lower price’ of between €40 million and €50 million, the ‘story would be different’.

Manchester City are likely to seek a direct replacement for Bernardo Silva in the upcoming summer transfer window, should a club come to the negotiating table with a deal that not only satisfies the Premier League club but also appeals to the player.

Options that Txiki Begiristain and his Etihad Stadium recruitment colleagues include Newcastle United’s Bruno Guimaraes – who has a £100 million release clause becoming active this summer – as well as West Ham United’s Lucas Paqueta.

City opened up serious contacts and negotiations for the latter playmaker last summer, however a deal collapsed due to an ongoing Football Association investigation into gambling allegations, although interest has been retained heading into the new market.