Barcelona "would like to sign Bernardo Silva"

Barcelona want to sign Manchester City attacker Bernardo Silva during this summer's transfer window, according to journalist Duncan Castles.

The Portugal international has scored 29 times and registered 33 assists in 139 appearances for City since joining the English champions from Monaco in July 2017.

Castles has claimed that Barca are interested in a summer deal for the 25-year-old, although the Citizens are expected to firmly resist any offer from the Catalan giants.

"Barcelona would like to sign Bernardo Silva. They have a long-standing interest in the player, they've been making enquiries to see whether it would be possible to get him out of Manchester City," Castles told the Transfer Window podcast.

"The answer to those enquiries was 'no chance, Manchester City will not sell this summer', and this is something that has been going on for several months that they will not sell this summer, Bernardo Silva is central to their plans, Pep Guardiola loves the player, he will not allow him to leave."

Castles, though, went on to claim that City's two-year European suspension could lead to the Portuguese attempting to force a move to Camp Nou this summer.

Silva has scored seven times and registered eight assists in 35 outings at club level this term.