Mercato: PSG offer Verratti for Bernardo Silva, City demand Zaire-Emery
Discussions have begun between PSG and Manchester City over the possible transfer of Bernardo Silva this summer, and several names of Parisian players have been at the heart of the debate.
PSG have made Bernardo Silva their priority to succeed Lionel Messi in the summer mercato, as has been rumoured for weeks. And the Portuguese, who has just won the Champions League with Manchester City, is looking for a change of scenery. According to some sources, he has his sights set on Spain and Barça, although he is well aware of the Catalan club's economic difficulties. According to other sources, he already has an agreement with Luis Campos' PSG, whom he knows well.
PSG want to lower Bernardo Silva's price....
If Paris wants to recruit the pocket-sized attacking midfielder, it will have to convince him but also come to an agreement with his club, which has no intention of selling him off given his importance and would demand between €70 and €80m depending on the source. With this in mind, FootMercato revealed two days ago that PSG had offered Marco Verratti and Gianluigi Donnarumma to the English club in an attempt to bring down the price of Bernardo Silva. However, according to FM, the Mancunian club refused these offers.
This Thursday, L'Equipe confirms that PSG have offered their Italian midfielder to Manchester City, but denies the offer for Donnarumma. On the other hand, the sports daily confirms that Manchester City have declined the deal including Verratti for the time being. " But discussions have only just begun," adds L'Equipe, which does not rule out the Skyblues' position evolving in the future.
... City call for Zaire-Emery rather than Verratti
For its part, RMC Sport confirms that PSG have proposed several names to the English champions to bring down the price of Bernardo Silva. The names are not specified, but City have not been impressed at this stage, preferring to bring in... Warren Zaïre-Emery, the promising and talented 17-year-old Parisian midfielder who has made 31 appearances under Christophe Galtier this season.
But this time, it's PSG who aren't keen on this option, and are closing the door on their player, who is under contract until 2025 and is also being courted by Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool, according to the radio station. Finally, RMC Sport tells WZE that PSG have not yet entered into any negotiations regarding a possible contract extension.