Just in: Barcelona reach agreement with Man City for Bernardo Silva, fee less than €80m

Much has been made of the future of Frenkie de Jong this summer, with many expecting the midfielder to leave Camp Nou this summer, amid intense internal pressure from the club.

Barcelona believe de Jong’s sale is going to be essential in helping them balance the books ahead of the new season. But at the same time, they are actively trying to nail down a direct replacement for the Dutchman, with Xavi setting his sights firmly on Bernardo Silva.

According to Gerard Romero, there has been a recent development over Barcelona’s pursuit of Silva, with the club apparently reaching an agreement with Manchester City over the Portuguese international.

It is no secret Xavi rates Silva highly due to the creative output and tactical versatility he offers to the table. The Barça coach even considers him an ideal midfield partner for Pedri for the interior position next season.

However, the signing has always eluded them as Silva is valued highly in the Man City camp as well. But it appears Barça have reached an agreement with the English giants and the player’s agent Jorge Mendes, over Silva’s potential move to Camp Nou this summer.

Romero suggests the overall cost of the deal could be less than €80 million, which is far below the reported value of €100 million earlier in the summer.

That said, it is hard to imagine Barcelona succeeding in the operation given their current financial status. The club are not even in a position to register their new signings, and still need to free up around €25 million in their workforce expenses.

That is where the sale of Frenkie de Jong could become vital. Recent reports indicate Manchester United are ready to fork out a substantial fee for the services of the Dutchman this summer, although the fate of the transfer could depend on the player himself.