MLS giants explore summer move for Manchester City legend – Competition from Europe and Saudi Arabia | OneFootball

Interest in Manchester City legend and current club captain Bernardo Silva is beginning to intensify as the player approaches his contract expiry.

Silva will be out of contract at the Etihad Stadium this summer, with major question marks over the Manchester City skipper’s future at the club into the second half of a season wherein the Blues are competing on four fronts.

The 31-year-old has been one of Pep Guardiola’s best signings in England, winning six Premier League titles, a UEFA Champions League as part of a historic treble in 2023 and a plethora of other silverware since his £43 million switch to City from AS Monaco in 2017.

However, the Portugal international could be set to part ways with the Blues at the end of the season, having gone so far as to admit that he has made his mind up over his Manchester City future when addressing the media in September 2025.

Silva will not have a dearth of options away from the Etihad Stadium, with no indication at present of contract renewal talks between the playmaker and Manchester City sporting director Hugo Viana.

Manchester City are seven points adrift of Premier League leaders Arsenal as they search for their first league win of 2026 against Wolves on Saturday, having won just twice in their last seven games in all competitions.

An embarrassing showing in a 3-1 UEFA Champions League defeat to Bodo/Glimt in the freezing cold of Norway earlier this week saw Manchester City’s leadership group – led by Silva – spend over £10,000 to reimburse matchday ticket expenses for 374 travelling Blues – a gesture that drew huge praise from Guardiola.

Despite ongoing speculation over his club future, Silva will be focused on helping City turn the ship around in the second half of the season, with major question marks over whether the eight-time Premier League champions can overturn their recent slump in form to stake a claim for silverware.

However, club officials will be keeping a close eye on developments around Silva’s future as they outline transfer plans for the 2026 summer window, having already revamped Guardiola’s ranks since Viana replaced Txiki Begiristain as sporting director last year.

According to a new report from Mail Sport’s Simon Jones, MLS giants Chicago Fire have ‘thrown their hat into the ring’ to sign Silva in the upcoming summer.

Given his free agent status rapidly approaching, the Portuguese midfielder is said to be attracting interest from Barcelona and other ‘top sides’ in Europe, as well as suitors from the ever-ambitious Saudi Arabia.

From the side of officials in Chicago, it is claimed that they have held discussions with Silva’s representatives, with talks having centred around a three-year deal with figures of up to $12 million-a-year.