As soon as once more in his Manchester Metropolis tenure, Pep Guardiola might want to oversee one thing of a squad rebuild this summer season, with the treble-winning facet of 2023 trying to have maybe run its course.
When the Catalan coach arrived via the door in 2016, he inherited an ageing facet that additionally wanted revamping, with the likes of Yaya Toure, Vincent Kompany, David Silva and Sergio Aguero slowly being phased out over the following few years.
Historical past seems to be set to repeat itself within the current day, albeit with there extra prone to be a swift mass exodus this time round, fairly than a gradual transition.
Of those that helped the Residents to treble glory lower than two years in the past, Kyle Walker has since moved out on mortgage to AC Milan, whereas experiences have indicated that each Jack Grealish and Kevin De Bruyne may comply with go well with on the finish of the season.
A new goalkeeper is also on the playing cards, whereas 2023 arrival, Mateo Kovacic, has additionally been closely linked with a return to Spain, amid curiosity from former rivals, Atletico Madrid.
It additionally stays to be seen whether or not long-serving star, Bernardo Silva, will lastly safe a long-awaited exit, with the Portuguese playmaker having endured a muted marketing campaign on the Etihad.
Bernardo Silva’s future at Man Metropolis
As soon as once more, these of a Metropolis persuasion head right into a summer season window anticipating hypothesis surrounding the previous Monaco man, with the 30-year-old having repeatedly been linked with an exit in earlier years.
As per The Athletic, the midfielder’s contract – which is set to run out subsequent yr – is now ‘handled on a summer-by-summer foundation on account of his earlier wishes to go away’, with a transfer to Barcelona having lengthy been touted.
Maybe, the £300k-per-week star will really depart this time round, with current experiences indicating that he could have even agreed phrases over an exit, with Paris Saint-Germain seen as a possible vacation spot.
That potential swap to the French capital would convey to an finish what has been a magical eight-year spell with the Residents for Silva, with Guardiola memorably lauding the diminutive expertise as “among the best gamers [he’s] ever seen” again in 2023.
Since signing on a £43m deal again in 2017, the Lisbon-born genius has racked up 69 targets and 69 assists in 394 video games in all competitions, enjoying an important half within the string of main honours that Guardiola and co have claimed.
|
Bernardo Silva’s PL decline |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Stat (*per sport) |
2023/24 |
2024/25 |
|
Video games |
33 |
26 |
|
Objectives |
6 |
2 |
|
Assists |
9 |
4 |
|
Large probabilities created |
13 |
8 |
|
Key passes* |
1.9 |
1.6 |
|
Go accuracy* |
89% |
89% |
|
Tackles* |
1.5 |
1.5 |
|
Interceptions* |
0.5 |
0.7 |
|
Profitable dribbles* |
1.2 |
0.9 |
For all his majestic high quality, nonetheless, Silva’s impression has been restricted in 2024/25 it have to be stated, having contributed simply three targets and 4 assists in all competitions, albeit whereas largely working in a deeper function.
Although he has beforehand been described as “irreplaceable” by his supervisor up to now, now may really be the right time for Metropolis to money in, with the membership already boasting the best alternative.
Man Metropolis’s in-house Bernardo Silva alternative
It is honest to say that the Etihad outfit aren’t in need of artistic skills who may fill the footwear of Silva within the facet, with Guardiola blessed with a raft of younger stars, specifically Phil Foden, Oscar Bobb and James McAtee.
In The Pipeline
Soccer FanCast’s Within the Pipeline collection goals to uncover the perfect youth gamers in world soccer.
That stated, one man who may characterize the “very best successor to Bernardo” – as per analyst Ben Mattinson – is current arrival, Claudio Echeverri, with the 19-year-old making his belated transfer to Manchester earlier this yr.
The highly-rated Argentine was really signed by Metropolis from River Plate again in January 2024, on a £12.5m deal, though he was instantly loaned again to the membership for the yr.
Now formally confirmed as a Man Metropolis participant, {the teenager} remains to be ready to make his first look for his new facet, albeit whereas having been pictured pitchside for Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Brighton.
Guardiola had beforehand teased that he wish to introduce the Argentina U20 worldwide earlier than the top of the season, or forward of the Membership World Cup, albeit with it set to rely on how rapidly Echeverri can adapt.
“He is right here quickly. He’s going to begin to practice. Possibly for the top of the season, perhaps for the World Cup and as quickly as he arrives he can adapt fast for the longer term.”
Metropolis supporters could not have seen a lot of their new man but, though, within the phrases of Mattinson, they now have a “correct famous person” on their fingers, with expertise scout Jacek Kulig beforehand suggesting that the playmaker is “destined for greatness“.
Very similar to Silva, Echeverri has sometimes operated in an attacking midfield function in his profession up to now, having recorded 4 targets and eight assists for his former employers, from 48 senior outings.
It is going to take time for {the teenager} to adapt to life in his new environment, though if he can comply with within the footsteps of one other ex-River Plate star, Julian Alvarez, then the Residents may properly be on to a winner.
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