BERNARDO SILVA remains a transfer target for Barcelona, reports claim.
The Spanish giants have been linked with the Manchester City star in the last two transfer windows.
EPABernardo Silva is a reported transfer target for Barcelona[/caption]
And, finances allowing, they will step up their efforts to sign him at the end of the season, according to Sport.
A transfer last summer wasn’t possible as Frenkie de Jong ended up staying at Barcelona amid strong interest from Manchester United.
City then reportedly rejected a £62million bid in January as they did not want to lose Silva, 28, mid-season.
But Sport say a £57.5m offer at the end of the campaign would be enough to secure his signature.
City are reported to have told Silva’s agent, the notorious Jorge Mendes, that a £57.5m offer would be accepted.
Silva, who came off the bench to score in City’s 2-0 win over Newcastle on Saturday, is claimed to be open to a move.
He will have two years left on his Etihad deal at the end of the season.
And the Portuguese playmaker is eyeing a new challenge after six years in Manchester.
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He told Record earlier this year: “I’m very focused on this season and it doesn’t make sense to talk about leaving because we’re in the middle of the season.”
He added: “I won’t hide that my goal in the coming years, if something good happens elsewhere, will probably be to move to a new project.”
However, funding a move for Silva could be difficult.
Barcelona have effectively been hit with a transfer ban this summer because of their financial woes.
Speaking at the FT Business of Football summit in London, LaLiga chief executive Javier Tebas confirmed: “As of today, Barcelona doesn’t have any room in its budget to spend in the upcoming transfer window.
“Barcelona has been involved in questionable behaviour which has had an impact on LaLiga – and we are acting accordingly.”