Nicolo Barella is reportedly the top priority for Manchester City if Bernardo Silva departs the club this summer.
After Ilkay Gundogan’s departure to Barcelona, questions have arisen about Silva’s future at City. Mateo Kovacic’s arrival is expected to fill the void left by Gundogan, but City seems prepared to dive into the transfer market again for another midfielder, with Barella on their radar.
According to TuttoMercatoWeb, City has a deep admiration for Barella, who might be following Andre Onana’s footsteps out of San Siro after his move to Manchester United. The Champions League final pitted City against Inter Milan, giving Pep Guardiola a firsthand view of Barella’s talent. The esteemed manager was left highly impressed by Barella’s unique attributes, sparking his interest in bringing the midfielder to City if the need arises.
Barella’s career already boasts an impressive list of accomplishments. At Inter, he secured the Scudetto and two Coppa Italia titles. Notably, he played a pivotal role in Italy’s victorious Euro 2020 campaign, starting in every knockout stage encounter. Such achievements have undoubtedly caught the attention of top clubs like City.
The potential snag in this pursuit could be the transfer fee. Inter might demand a sum comparable to what Arsenal paid for Declan Rice, a situation that could complicate matters for City, especially considering their ongoing negotiations for Josko Gvardiol, who could also come with a hefty price tag.
Barella has also been linked to Liverpool earlier in the summer, but with the recent acquisitions of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, Liverpool’s interest has cooled off. Meanwhile, Silva’s future at Manchester City has been under intense speculation, with Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain showing keen interest.
Additionally, there have been rumors of a lucrative move to Al-Hilal for Silva, with his teammate Riyad Mahrez also expected to leave for Saudi Arabia soon. Silva’s crucial role in the Champions League final, providing the assist for Rodri’s match-winning goal, further enhanced his market value.