Barcelona refuse to raise offer as Bernardo Silva transfer hangs in balance | OneFootball

Despite successfully defending their La Liga title, FC Barcelona were looking to significantly strengthen their squad in the upcoming summer transfer window. The Catalans were reportedly looking for a new center-forward with the highest priority, especially following the departure of Robert Lewandowski, and were also in the market for some defensive reinforcements.

Meanwhile, midfield was one area of their team for which the Blaugranes were not looking for a new player. In fact, they were expected to offload at least one midfielder, as Hansi Flick already has seven players for three spots in the middle of the pitch.

Still, this situation has not stopped them from being linked once again with the Portuguese playmaker Bernardo Silva, who has already played his last game for Manchester City, and can join another team as a free agent this summer.

His agent, Jorge Mendes, also offered him to Barcelona, and the fact that he can play in several positions and would arrive as a free agent made the Blaugranes receive this offer quite favorably. However, MARCA reports that the situation currently is at a standstill, as the Catalans are not willing to improve the financial offer they have already made to the player.

The operation got complicated as other sides entered the race for his signing, most notably two of the Catalans’ most prominent rivals in Spain, i.e., Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid.

These two clubs offered Silva significantly higher wages, raising his financial demands. This point proved to be the deal-breaker, as Deco was clear that a luxury substitute like him would not be paid higher than most other players in the squad. In this backdrop, the player himself publicly expressed his desire to join a side where he is really wanted.

Still, Bernardo Silva’s signing is still not fully ruled out, and Barcelona can make a move for him once Marc Casado’s departure is confirmed. But for now, it remains to be seen how this story develops and where the Portuguese star would be playing next season.