What’s the story?
Bernardo Silva has set his sight on the move to the Old Trafford next season, according to reports from Canal+. After winning the Ligue 1 with AS Monaco, the winger told the French press, “I read the papers, but for now there is nothing concrete. I already said that I felt good in Monaco, but everything is possible.”
Manchester United are planning to offer €55 million to Monaco for their winger next season. The principality side is set to get a major hit this summer as most of their players such as Kylian Mbappe, Thomas Lemar, and Tiemoue Bakayoko are all rumoured to be the verge of leaving the club after putting in stellar performances this season.
In case you didn’t know…
The Portuguese international joined Monaco from Benfica back in 2015 for €15.75 million and has more than lived up to his price tag. The Monegasques won the Ligue 1 title after defeating St-Etienne 2-0 on Thursday – their first in 17 years. And in the race to the title, Leonardo Jardim’s men have scored 104 goals in 37 games – out of which the 22-year-old scored has scored 11.
Silva, who has had a breakout season also has played 11 caps for the Portuguese national team.
The heart of the matter
The Old Trafford outfit has set their eyes on some of the Europe’s top forward ahead of the next transfer window with names like Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappe, Romelu Lukaku and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang being linked with a move to Jose Mourinho’s side.
Mourinho is trying to keep his options open as the Red Devils have failed to make it to the top four in the Premier League. But United still have the Europa League final against Ajax in hand and winning it will secure them a place in the Champions League next season. And most of the United’s signings are dependent on whether they have the Champions League football next year or not.
Mourinho and Silva share the same agent Jorge Mendes, who can help United in signing the 22-year-old this summer. Antonio Conte is also believed to have set his sight on the Portuguese winger.
What’s next?
The Monaco winger with his performances this season has impressed many big European clubs and move to one of the big clubs in Europe wouldn’t be a surprise at all.
Author’s take
The Red Devils should try and sign Mbappe over Silva this summer as the young French striker is only 18-year-old and his performances were better than the Portuguese international. With Ibrahimovic out for an unknown period, the Frenchman also feels United’s primary need of a man who can tear it up at the front.
However, one feels that everything will depend on Manchester United’s ability to win the Europa League and thus ensuring them a place in the Champions League for next season.
