Arsenal are tracking Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva, who will become a free agent at the end of his contract at the Etihad Stadium, it has been confirmed.
Bernardo Silva has already announced that he will leave Pep Guardiola’s side in the summer after nine years in Manchester.
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are “monitoring” the situation and could be prepared to make a move for the former Benfica and Monaco player, ESPN Brasil reports.
Bernardo Silva assessing transfer options
Having announced his intention to leave Man City last week, Bernardo Silva has numerous options for his future.
Arsenal are considered a “remote” possibility at the moment, despite the Gunners’ interest. Their rivalry with City is thought to be off-putting for the 31-year-old. While the likes of Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko have both left Guardiola’s side to move to the North London outfit, these deals were in the days before the two sides were so competitive with each other at the top of the Premier League.
Bernardo, meanwhile, wants to finish his career at Benfica but does not intend to move back there at this point in his career, while he “does not intend” to move to the Saudi Pro League, with his desire to remain in Europe.
Tuttosport has claimed that Jorge Mendes, Bernardo Silva’s agent, is expected to fly into Turin to discuss terms with Juventus. It is also added that Barcelona are interested.
A quick decision is not expected from the Portugal international. The Brazilian report indicates that he will wait for the World Cup before making a call.
Bernardo Silva to Arsenal: A smart move?
A move to Arsenal is a good option for Bernardo Silva, according to data analytics firm SciSports’ Career Advice tool, which calculates the likely effectiveness of a move using a wide variety of metrics.
Arsenal get a Club Fit score of 71, which suggests there is a strong probability of this move proving effective. However, there are serious doubts raised over how much game time he would get at the Emirates Stadium, with the Gunners scoring just one star in this regard.
Arteta already has Martin Odegaard and Eberechi Eze capable of playing in the No.10 role, while on the right, Bukayo Saka is an immovable force in the starting XI.
SciSports’ analysis suggests that Newcastle would be the best move for him, with the Magpies scoring a Club Fit of 83, while Inter Milan is another attractive option with a score of 81. The Serie A outfit could also offer him Champions League football.
Bernardo’s craft and vision would be welcomed at Arsenal, but can the Gunners give him the type of game time that would keep him satisfied? It would seem doubtful. A move elsewhere seems likely.
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