A recent report from SPORT has offered an update on the situation of Barcelona targets Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva.
Silva was one of the club’s top targets in the summer, as he was a favourite for Xavi. The Barça coach, after all, wanted the Portuguese international to operate as the interior midfielder alongside Pedri this season, with Sergio Busquets operating as the number six
However, the move did not materialise as Barcelona could not conjure up Man City’s desired valuation for the player. And according to this recent report, it appears Barça’s chances of signing Silva could dwindle further following Pep Guardiola’s contract extension at Man City.
The Catalan tactician has penned a new deal at Etihad until 2025, which could prove to be significant in helping Man City keep hold of Silva. That is because the former Barcelona manager considers the Portuguese international a vital player in his setup, and under his leadership, Man City could hand him a renewal offer.
Although the Premier League champions are willing to provide Bernardo Silva with the opportunity to leave the club if he desires, Barcelona are not in a position to match the playmaker’s price tag, which is only going to increase following Guardiola’s extension.
Another player’s future that could be directly impacted by Guardiola’s new deal is Gundogan. Much like Silva, the German international is one of Barcelona’s targets in their quest to reinforce their options in the middle of the park.
Gundogan has confirmed he will not make a decision on his future until spring, meaning a January move had already been ruled out. The former Borussia Dortmund ace had stated that Guardiola’s future would have an influence on his decision.
“I haven’t thought that far, but in my career, I’ve always made my decisions depending on who the coach is because that’s the most important thing for a footballer, it’s that the coach values you but can also challenge and encourage you,” he had said.
And with the manager confirming his prolonged stay at Manchester City, Gundogan could decide to stay put at the Etihad as well.
Barcelona, therefore, are running the risk of missing out on both these Manchester City stars, which could prove to be catastrophic for coach Xavi.