Bernardo Silva Leads Praise for 'Great' Bruno Fernandes as Man City Make €50m Bid

Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva has praised Sporting CP captain and international teammates Bruno Fernandes, with the two clubs reportedly in talks

Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva has praised Sporting CP captain and international teammates Bruno Fernandes, with the two clubs reportedly in talks over a €50m move.

24-year-old Fernandes has been the standout performer in Portugal this season, scoring 16 goals and claiming 12 assists in his 30 Primeira Liga appearances this season. 

PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/GettyImages

According to Portuguese publication A Bola, Sporting CP director Hugo Viana travelled from Lisbon to Manchester on Tuesday for talks. Officials from both sides are set to meet to discuss the transfer of the midfielder, with the Citizens reportedly ready to pay €50m.

The report also claims that the Citizens are willing to pay up to €70m including bonuses, with Pep Guardiola keen to avoid the 'enormous competition' for the attacking midfielder, with Paris Saint-Germain also interested.

Meanwhile, Fernandes was pictured with Silva at the Estoril Open tennis tournament this week, with the current City star fanning the flames of speculation by describing his Portugal teammate as 'great player'.

“Bruno is a great player," said Silva (via O Jogo), who added: "He has made a fantastic season with many goals, many assists that are not normal for a player of his position, he has the leading numbers and we’ll see what happens at the end of the season.

Two Portuguese ⚽️ ⭐️ ready to support @joaosousa30.

Welcome to Millennium @EstorilOpen, @BernardoCSilva & Bruno Fernandes!#EstorilOpen | @ATP_Tour pic.twitter.com/nUsXbAT2Me

— Millennium #EstorilOpen (@EstorilOpen) April 30, 2019

"He is a player who can play in other championships.”

Should Fernandes make a summer move to the Etihad, he'll face stiff competition in midfield from the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, David Silva, Ilkay Gundogan, Phil Foden, and his fellow countryman Bernardo Silva.