Manchester City ready to accept £70 million offer for star midfielder

Manchester City will begin the defence of their Premier League title next season with a trip to recently promoted Burnley in August. 

The Clarets, who themselves topped the Championship last term, will welcome the treble winners to Turf Moor on the opening day of the 2023/24 campaign, after the fixtures were announced on Thursday morning.

City secured a third consecutive top flight title last month, and will go into the new campaign as the favourites to once again defend their crown.

In the meantime, though, it appears that the Citizens could lose one of their most important players.

As per Football Insider, the club are prepared to accept an offer for midfielder Bernardo Silva this summer.

The report claims that the Manchester outfit will allow Silva to depart the club if their £70 million valuation of the player is met.

Silva, 28, joined City from French side Monaco back in 2017 and has since made 306 appearances for the club across all competitions.

The Portugal international has scored 55 goals and provided 59 assists during his time in Manchester, as well as winning 14 trophies including five Premier League titles and the Champions League.

Silva played a crucial role during City’s run to Champions League glory

Despite his huge success with City, Silva has been linked with an exit from The Etihad during each of the past two summer transfer windows.

He has previously been linked with Spanish giants Barcelona, and the report claims that French champions Paris Saint-Germain are now interested.

Barcelona are unlikely to be able to afford to sign Silva this summer due to their ongoing financial issues.

At present Silva is contracted to City until 2027, having extended his deal back in 2019.

Manager Guardiola is said to be reluctant to lose the player this summer, but City have reportedly decided that they will accept offers worth £70 million.

This term, the Portuguese scored seven goals and provided eight assists in 55 matches across all competitions, with his most crucial goals being a brace against Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final second leg.