Pep lands Silva, now for Mendy
And £39m Mendy is Pep’s next target
MANCHESTER CITY made a serious statement of intent yesterday by signing Bernardo Silva from Monaco for £43million. The 22-year-old midfielder flew into the North West to complete a medical and sign a five-year contract with French and Portuguese sources claiming the final cost could rise to £60m. Pep Guardiola is now set to launch a bid for Monaco left back Benjamin Mendy. Silva said: ‘When you have the opportunity of being trained by Guardiola, you don’t say no. He is one of the best coaches. ‘What he did at Barcelona
and Bayern Munich was amazing and we expect also here that he will win titles. It’s great to be working with him.’
Guardiola has long been an admirer of Silva, but was particularly impressed with the 12- cap Portugal international after the first leg of City’s Champions League tie with Monaco in February.
The City boss was privately effusive about his performance at the Etihad Stadium and insistent that Silva should quickly head to the club.
The nimble playmaker offers Guardiola even greater attacking options and could play from the right or centrally, where City already boast Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva.
City hope to complete significant pieces of transfer business early this summer. They enjoy a good relationship with Monaco, who have set a price of around £39m for Mendy. A deal for Tottenham right back Kyle Walker remains in the offing, and he could link up with Silva to devastating effect in an area which concerned Guardiola during his disappointing first season in charge. Monaco’s Fabinho is another option at right back.
Meanwhile, Yaya Toure is expected to sign a one-year contract to stay at City, with both camps confident of new a deal.
Toure, 34, was sidelined by Guardiola in the opening weeks of the season but has been one of the club’s star performers since returning to the fold.
The Ivorian’s current deal expires this summer, but, after seven years at the Etihad, he claimed last weekend that he hoped to retire in Manchester. And with fellow midfielder Fernando on the way out, Toure looks set to stay for another campaign.