Pep Guardiola confirms Bernardo Silva will STAY at Manchester City this season

Pep Guardiola has confirmed Bernardo Silva will spend the rest of the season with Manchester City.

Silva is understood to have been keen on taking up a new challenge since the beginning of the ongoing pandemic.

The 28-year-old has three years remaining on his current deal at the Etihad Stadium and has attracted interest from the likes of Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain this summer.

Guardiola benched Silva in Manchester City's opening games of their title defence against West Ham and Bournemouth.

Silva made his first Premier League start of the campaign in City's 3-3 draw with Newcastle, scoring and providing an assist on his return to the lineup.

Sources close to the Etihad Stadium have maintained in recent weeks the chances of Bernardo Silva leaving in the closing weeks of the transfer window are extremely slim.

A recent report even suggested Silva had been left 'unimpressed' after City turned down a €70 million offer for the Portugal international from PSG.

Speaking ahead of City's league meeting with Crystal Palace on Saturday, Pep Guardiola has confirmed Bernardo Silva is going to stay at the Etihad Stadium for the current campaign.

The Catalan went on to deny reports of a bid from PSG and stated Manchester City have not received an approach from the French giants.

Guardiola, who signed Silva from AS Monaco in 2017, said: "Bernardo Silva will stay at Man City, there are no negotiations."

The Manchester City boss was further asked if the club would listen to offers made for Silva in the remainder of the transfer window.

"We don't have any phone call from any club regarding Bernardo Silva, so he will stay," Guardiola added.

Silva is amongst a series of current and former Manchester City players who were believed to be open to leaving the club last summer.

Aymeric Laporte, Riyad Mahrez, Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling were all linked with moves away from the Etihad Stadium amidst a COVID-19 stricken market.

Jesus and Sterling left for Arsenal and Chelsea respectively this summer, with Mahrez signing a new contract this summer and Laporte happy with his game time after a successful 2021/22 campaign.

It remains to be seen if City do receive any late offers for Bernardo Silva but Guardiola remains confident of holding on to the Lisbon-born midfielder as the Blues again look to retain their Premier League title.