Talks over big-name Manchester City exit in 2026 “well advanced” – Contract ready to be signed in January | OneFootball

Manchester City could be on the verge of bidding farewell to yet another big name from their first-team squad, according to fresh reports in Portugal.

Bernardo Silva’s future has been a recurring subject of speculation across recent years, with interest from Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and even Saudi Arabia emerging during multiple transfer windows.

Yet, despite the constant noise, Silva has stayed put and become a pillar of Pep Guardiola’s side, recently being handed the captain’s armband following Kevin De Bruyne’s departure to Napoli earlier this year.

Now 31, Silva has played a defining role in Manchester City’s successes, from their first UEFA Champions League win in 2023 to last season’s battles through injury crises. Pep Guardiola has regularly labelled the Portuguese star as one of his most important players, praising his consistency, tactical intelligence, and willingness to play across multiple positions.

A return to his homeland has always been considered a dream move for Silva. Having left Benfica’s youth system for AS Monaco as a teenager, he has often spoken about his desire to represent them again one day. That possibility is now appearing increasingly realistic, particularly with presidential elections approaching at the Portuguese giants.

According to the information of Portuguese newspaper Record, as translated and relayed by Sport Witness, Benfica presidential candidate João Noronha Lopes is preparing a move for Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva, wanting to seal a deal as early as January.

It is claimed that a contract is already drafted and ready to be signed from January 1 by the 31-year-old midfielder – the date on which Bernardo Silva will be able to formally negotiate with other clubs as his City deal runs until June 2026.

Record outlines that either Manchester City will agree to let the Portuguese international leave immediately in exchange for a fee in January, or Benfica wait until the summer market of 2026 and secure him on a free agreement.

As for discussions between Noronha Lopes and Bernardo Silva, the report describes those interactions as “well advanced”, with the candidate intending to make the playmaker the centrepiece of his sporting project should he become elected.

For Manchester City, Silva’s departure would mark the end of an era and strip Pep Guardiola of one of his most dependable leaders, but on the other, it could also accelerate the rise of new creative figures within the squad such as Rayan Cherki and Claudio Echeverri.

The club would almost certainly look to reinvest in midfield reinforcements if Bernardo Silva’s exit was confirmed, particularly given their history of forward planning in the transfer market, with that challenge handed to Hugo Viana in what would be his second summer window in his position as City’s sporting director.

For Benfica fans, a potential homecoming would be monumental. Landing their former academy product, now a Champions League and multi-Premier League winner, would be both a symbolic and sporting coup.

The coming months will be decisive, and should Silva choose to commit to an early pre-contract, speculation could intensify across Europe, with other clubs possibly testing the waters before Benfica’s elections conclude.