Three players could be targeted to replace Bernardo Silva after Man City announced his exit.
Manchester City assistant Pep Guardiola confirmed this weekend that Bernardo Silva will leave the club at the end of his contract.
Manchester City fans braced themselves for Bernardo Silva’s departure this summer and now the news has been confirmed. The 31-year-old has been an ever-present for the Blues, making 450 appearances and counting for Pep Guardiola’s men.
All those appearances have come under Guardiola and his assistant Pep. Legends admits it will be impossible to replace the 31-year-old. You never replace a player with another of the same type, as they do not exist. Bernardo Silva is unique,” he explained. “The way he controls games, the way he moves, the way he receives, the way he leads, the way he sees solutions.
“All these things. You never look for a replacement for one type of player. You look for someone who can grow with the team and fit into the starting XI.”
City will still need to sign at least one midfielder to fill the gap left behind by Bernardo. Men’s sports: The Blues could look at three options to replace their captain.
Leon Goretzka – Bayern Munich
The Germany international joined Bayern two years after Guardiola left the Bundesliga. He has been indispensable as the Bavarian club continues to dominate Germany. Goretzka is the same age as Bernardo and will add experience to a relatively young team next season.
His style is similar to Bernardo’s. Goretzka wants to take the ball forward and play forward passes at every opportunity, like Bernardo.
Goretzka would also be free to agree to leave Bayern at the end of his contract. The danger for City is that he hasn’t played as many minutes as Bernardo this season, nor has he played outside of Germany.
The Bundesliga is one of the most physical divisions outside the Premier League, so that plays in its favour. But City will need him to play more games if he is to become a credible Bernardo replacement.
Sandro Tonali – Newcastle United
If Newcastle miss out on Champions League football, they have a tough time keeping Tonali. At 25, the Italian is entering the prime of his career and is fit enough to play for one of the top teams.
Tonali has been used primarily as a defensive midfielder this season but has the qualities to play alongside a holding player like Rodri. He doesn’t carry the ball as well as Bernardo but a large part of that is because he plays deeper in Eddie Howe’s system.
Like Bernardo, he is looking to make forward passes when he gets the ball and Guardiola could turn him into a substitute captain. The city will face trouble due to its price tag.
Newcastle CEO David Hopkinson insisted last week that clubs would need to play by their own terms in the transfer market but failed to specify a price tag for Tonali. Whether City will want to pay £80m plus for the Italy international remains to be seen.
Elliott Anderson – Nottingham Forest
Anderson could be a sage investment if the Wild are let go this season. Despite Forest’s struggles, the former Newcastle midfielder has had a fantastic season, and he is almost certain to depart the East Midlands in the summer.
Like Bernardo, Anderson’s strengths are progression and forward passes. However, he also wins a higher percentage of duels and enjoys significantly more possession than City’s current captain.
At 23, he’s also the youngest option on the roster, but he doesn’t lack experience. Compared to Bernardo, he struggles in moving the ball forward, but we can work on that.
If Forest avoid relegation, they will want £100m for Anderson. It’s a hefty sum, but the England international will add a new dimension to the city’s midfield.
