Bernardo Silva completes Man City transfer from Monaco for £43m and says Pep Guardiola was major factor James Ducker
26 MAY 2017 • 7:11PM
Manchester City issued a clear statement of intent in the transfer market on Friday night as Pep Guardiola’s planned revolution at the Etihad Stadium this summer kicked off with the £43.6 million signing of Bernardo Silva from Monaco.
Silva, 22, flew into Manchester on Thursday night and underwent a medical on Friday before the Portugal playmaker put pen to paper on a long-term contract in what is expected to be the first of at least six new arrivals at the club as Guardiola reacts to a disappointing debut season in England.
Left back Benjamin Mendy, Silva’s team-mate at Monaco, and Tottenham right back Kyle Walker are also in Guardiola’s sights, in addition to Leonardo Bonucci, the Juventus centre-half, and Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez.Guardiola is also chasing a new goalkeeper to compete with Claudio Bravo.
City have been linked with moves for Leicester City No. 1 Kasper Schmeichel, Ederson Moraes, of Benfica, and Gianluigi Donnarumma at AC Milan.City are understood to have paid a flat fee with no add-ons for Silva, who was instrumental in Monaco’s march to the Ligue 1 title this season as well as their progress to the Champions League semi-finals, which involved eliminating City in an enthralling Round of 16 tie. He will officially join City on July 1.Silva – who will wear the No. 20 shirt next season - attracted interest from a host of leading European clubs but claimed the opportunity to work with Guardiola was too good to turn down.
“If not the best coach in the world, he is one of the best,” Silva said. “Of course when you have the opportunity of being trained by Guardiola, you don’t say no. As we all know, what he did in Barcelona and Bayern Munich was amazing, and we expect also here that he will win titles. To be honest I’m now at one of the best teams in the world. To be part of this club and to have this opportunity is great.”
City were already well stocked in the attacking midfield positons and Silva will face fierce competition from his Spanish namesake, David Silva, and Kevin De Bruyne. But as well as providing an immediate injection of quality and helping to reduce what Guardiola has felt was an ageing squad, the Portuguese is regarded as a natural long-term successor to David Silva, who is now 31, and earned rave reviews from the City manager for his performances for Monaco against City in the Champions League
Silva claimed 10 goals and 10 assists in 51 appearances for the French club this season and will assist Guardiola’s wish for more players capable of retaining possession in the final third and hurting opponents with their creativity. Guardiola also believes he will help to provide more cutting edge in attack after bemoaning his team’s wastefulness this season.
City’s failure to plan ahead defensively saw them lose three full-backs in one go this week and the club are keen to avoid a repeat situation in the attacking positions going forward.
Guardiola has wasted little time clearing the decks this week in anticipation of the club’s biggest summer overhaul since their Abu Dhabi owners’ takeover in 2008. Goalkeeper Willy Caballero, full-backs Pablo Zabaleta, Gael Clichy and Bacary Sagna and winger Jesus Navas were all released, with up to nine others likely to be offloaded, as Guardiola prepares the way for new blood.
The City manager is thought to be optimistic about also signing Mendy from Monaco but the French champions are trying to tie the 22-year-old France left back to a new long-term contract while he is also attracting interest from Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool in England. Alex Sandro, the Juventus left back, has been Guardiola’s long-standing first choice to fill that spot but City also want to sign Bonucci and will do well to get one, let alone both players out of the Turin club.
City are leading the race to sign the £35 million rated Walker from Spurs and have the advantage of being close to the England defender’s native Sheffield. Arsenal are desperate to keep hold of Sanchez and City face intense competition from Bayern Munich, Paris St-Germain and Chelsea for the £50 million rated Chile forward, who has a year left on his contract.Pepe, the veteran Real Madrid defender-cum-midfielder, has been linked with City but the club have distanced themselves from signing the 34-year-old.
City spent in excess of £172 million last summer and it is not unreasonable to think their gross spending could surpass the £200 million mark this time around.
Yet City remain optimistic about recouping a substantial sum in sales.
Joe Hart, Samir Nasri, Eliaquim Mangala and Wilfried Bony are all available after being loaned out this season. And City will also listen to offers for midfielder Fernando and forwards Nolito and Kelechi Iheanacho, who is attracting interest from West Ham United and Everton. Fabian Delph boosts City’s homegrown quota but the England midfielder may seek more regular playing time elsewhere. City could recoup around £100 million in sales if those eight players depart.
Patrick Roberts and Jason Denayer, who have been on loan at Celtic and Sunderland respectively this season, are likely to be loaned out again.
Guardiola has confirmed Sergio Aguero will stay at City this summer after much speculation about the Argentina striker’s future and Bravo is also determined to stay and fight for his place, despite the possibility of going into the new campaign as second choice goalkeeper. City have told Yaya Toure they want him to stay for another 12 months but it is unclear what, if any, terms the Ivory Coast midfielder has been offered as yet.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/05/26/bernardo-silva-completes-man-city-transfer-monaco-for43m/
