The Guardian (USA)

Manchester City bid for Matheus Nunes as Bernardo Silva signs new contract

- Fabrizio Romano and PA Media

Manchester City have submitted a bid in excess of €50m (£42.7m) for Wolves midfielder Matheus Nunes on an eventful day at the club. Bernardo Silva has committed his future and signed a new contract with the club until 2026, while Aymeric Laporte has announced that his time at the Etihad Stadium has come to an end.

Personal terms have been agreed with Nunes, who turns 25 on Sunday and is a Portugal teammate of Silva’s, with the proposed fee taking in a package of add-ons. Nunes signed for Wolves just over 12 months ago from Sporting for £38m.

Silva was linked with a summer switch away from City but has ended speculatio­n over his future for now by signing a new deal after his previous terms were due to expire in 2025.

“I’ve had six incredible years at

Manchester City and I’m delighted to extend my time here,” Silva said. “It has been a dream in terms of what we have achieved, the prospects of what we can still do. In six years, we have won five Premier Leagues, one Champions League and all of the cups. I couldn’t have it much better, to be honest.

“What we achieved last season is something unique and we are going to try and grab that opportunit­y again this season. We heard that four in a row was never done in the Premier League before, so we want to try that because it is so tough.”

Defender Laporte announced his departure from the club in a video on social media. He has reportedly agreed to join Al-Nassr after five and a half years in England.

The Spain internatio­nal will become the latest high-profile player to sign for a Saudi Pro League club, with former City teammate Riyad Mahrez among them after making the move to Al-Ahli last month.

“Dear Cityzens, today I wanted to share a story with you,” Laporte said in a video on Twitter that went on to show a highlights reel of his time at Man City. “This is now our history. Thank you and see you really soon.”

Laporte leaves after making 180 appearance­s for City, with his last outing for the club off the bench during their opening-day Premier League win at Burnley. He won 13 trophies during his time at City, including five Premier League titles and last season’s Champions

League.

After being restricted to a place among the substitute­s for the Community Shield defeat by Arsenal and the Super Cup triumph over Sevilla, he was absent from the matchday squad for last Saturday’s win over Newcastle. The arrival of Josko Gvardiol from RB Leipzig has further pushed Laporte down the pecking order at City.

 ?? ?? Matheus Nunes has impressed since arriving at Wolves from Sporting last year and is the subject of a £42.7m bid from Manchester City. Photograph: Shuttersto­ck
Matheus Nunes has impressed since arriving at Wolves from Sporting last year and is the subject of a £42.7m bid from Manchester City. Photograph: Shuttersto­ck
 ?? Photograph: Michael Regan/The FA/Getty ?? Bernardo Silva, celebratin­g during the Community Shield this month, had been linked with a move away this summer.
Photograph: Michael Regan/The FA/Getty Bernardo Silva, celebratin­g during the Community Shield this month, had been linked with a move away this summer.

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