Bernardo Silva: Man City and Barcelona ‘miles apart’ on transfer fee

Ben Jacobs

• 30 Aug 2022 21:42 BST
• 3 min read

Barcelona and Manchester City are 'miles' apart in their valuations of Bernardo Silva, making a deal unlikely this summer, writes CBS reporter Ben Jacobs.

Barcelona will likely be very busy with their incomings and outgoings before the window closes. Bernardo Silva is a player they desperately want but Pep Guardiola has been clear that he won't be leaving City.

Paris Saint-Germain have had an interest but they know a deal is tough because they also don't want to pay City's asking price.

It is clear that Barca love Bernardo and the player is open to the move, which is what is getting the Catalan side so excited.

But the reality is that Silva is not going to do a 'Wesley Fofana' and force his way out of the club and Barcelona and City are miles apart in valuation at the moment.

The deal is not looking likely and if Guardiola is to be believed, a deal is impossible between now and when the window shuts.

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Structure of the deal the key for Barcelona

It is going to be difficult to see how Barcelona can find the funds to agree a deal for Bernardo unless Frenkie de Jong unexpectedly leaves. And even then, it might be stretched.

Even if Barca came in for Bernardo, Man City are not going to let them pay in crazy instalments so they will have to find a hefty chunk up front.

This is why the structure of any deal is so important. If Barcelona need to find that hefty chunk, it's not just about agreeing a deal for De Jong, which is unlikely, it's about having the instalments in a way that they get more liquid capital.

It's no good selling De Jong if the payments are in three or four instalments. That won't get you Silva.

Barcelona will look to offload players like Sergino Dest, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Memphis Depay but at this stage there is nothing significant yet.

The other incoming is Marcos Alonso from Chelsea and that will determine the Aubameyang move based on whether it is a swap deal or a straight-cash deal.