Manchester City considering making a bid for long-term Man United target and more transfer rumours

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is now reportedly considering a bid for Manchester United target and Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong.

Manchester City ended their pursuit of West Ham’s Declan Rice after Arsenal returned with a bid of £105m and are now looking for an alternative to plug the hole in midfield.

De Jong was previously chased by Manchester United who desperately attempted to lure the Dutchman to Old Trafford for the entirety of last year’s summer transfer window before conceding defeat as he opted to remain in Spain.

But Man City may have more luck in convincing the 26-year-old to move to the Premier League as Guardiola weighs up whether or not to make a bid.

According to a report in The Sun, Pep Guardiola is keen on signing the Barcelona star. But the report claims that Barcelona will want atleast £90m that they were willing to offer West Ham for Declan Rice.

This strategic shift, as reported by the Sun, suggests a strong intention by City to find a suitable replacement for Ilkay Gundogan who recently transferred to Camp Nou.

Guardiola is apparently a huge admirer of De Jong and retains great interest in the midfielder after previously being unsuccessful when he tried to do a deal four years ago.

Although Barcelona’s president, Joan Laporta, has stated that De Jong is not for sale, Barcelona’s tricky financial situation means more outgoings will have to take place to fund new arrivals and De Jong could be shown the exit door if Man City make a tempting offer.

ElsewҺeгe, Bernardo Silva is reportedly being offered a massive £800,000-per-week salary to swap Manchester City for the Saudi Pro League.

Silva, 28, still has two years left on his £150,000-a-week contract at the Etihad – and Pep Guardiola’s Treble winners are desperate to keep hold of him.

They have already rejected a significant offer from French rivals Paris Saint-Germain after previously managing to see off Barcelona’s long-term interest by pricing him beyond the means.

The Nou Camp was Silva’s preferred destination but with his fee set at £60million, the hard-up Spaniards instead went for City team-mate and free agent, Ilkay Gundogan.

That has left Silva’s future in limbo. He seems keen to add a new chapter to a glittering career – opening the door for the Saudis to launch their audacious swoop.