Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva‘s future at the Etihad Stadium is ‘up in the air, according to The Athletic.

The Portugal star is still tied down on a long-term deal with the Premier League champions, with his current contract not set to expire until June 2025, although there has been talk about him completing a move away from the club.

Barcelona have been potential suitors for Silva since the summer, although there have since been reports that the Catalan giants have recently decided to cool their interest as Man City’s valuation of the player is deemed too high, considering that he will be 29 next August.

While Xavi’s side are no longer plotting a move, it is now being reported that the midfielder’s future at the Etihad could still be in doubt…

According to a report from The Athletic, Silva’s future as a City player is still ‘up in the air’, and Pep Guardiola may choose to cash in on a big offer if one arrives sooner rather than later.

However, a concern for the City manager would be finding a suitable replacement, with fellow midfielder Ilkay Gundogan’s contract coming to an end in June as things stand.

Hailed as ‘unbelievable‘ by football presenter Joe Thomlinson, Silva has been a fantastic servant for Guardiola since arriving at City in 2017, and he has continued to be an important player this season.

The 78-cap Portugal international has featured in all 14 of the Citizens’ Premier League games so far this term, scoring twice and bagging five assists, highlighting his aptitude for bringing his team-mates into the play and providing them with opportunities to finish.

This is also indicated by an average of 0.28 assists per 90 over the past year, placing him in the 96th percentile compared to his positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues, while a match average of 3.95 shot-creating actions in the same period puts him in the 93rd percentile.

It could be very difficult to find a replacement who’s good enough to match this return, so Guardiola should hold onto Silva for the foreseeable future.

Source: footballtransfertavern.com