SILVA STAYS PUT AT CITY
Midfield maestro gets bumper 6-year deal
MANCHESTER City midfielder Bernardo Silva’s stunning form this season was rewarded with a new six-year deal on Wednesday.
The Portuguese playmaker has arguably been the English champions’ player of the year so far, scoring nine goals in 40 appearances.
“It’s an honour to extend my deal with Manchester City,” Silva said in a club statement. “This club offers everything a player needs to fulfil their ambitions and there’s nowhere else I want to be.
“The style of football we play here excites me, and I am determined to win more trophies. City gives me the best chance of doing that.”
Silva has already won a Premier League title and two League Cups since joining from Monaco for a reported £43 million (RM303 million) in 2017.
And more could soon follow as the 24-year-old was on target in City’s 7-0 thrashing of Schalke on Tuesday as they progressed to the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Pep Guardiola’s men remain on course for an unprecedented quadruple of trophies this season as they also lead the Premier League by a point from Liverpool and face Swansea in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Tottenham have reportedly accepted that they are set to lose star defender Toby Alderweireld this summer.
Centre back Alderweireld is under contract at Spurs until the end of next season after the club triggered an extension clause in December.
Triggering the clause came at a price as it meant Spurs will be obliged to accept any bid of £26million or more for Alderweireld in the final two weeks of this summer's transfer window.
According to The Mirror, Manchester United are leading the race for the 30-year-old's signature, although Barcelona and Juventus are also interested.
And The Mirror claim that Spurs are resigned to losing Alderweireld to their domestic rivals.
Since joining Spurs in 2015 Alderweireld has made more than 100 Premier League appearances, scoring five goals.
Alderweireld was heavily linked with a move away last summer but, after remaining with Spurs, he has started more League games than any other outfield player at the club this season.
His arrival at Old Trafford could coincide with Eric Bailly's departure.