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Manchester United and Real Madrid are set for high-priced transfer duel

By Rucker Haringey

MARSEILLE, FRANCE - JANUARY 15: Bernardo Silva of Monaco celebrates his second goal during the French Ligue 1 match between Olympique de Marseille and AS Monaco at Stade Velodrome on January 15, 2017 in Marseille, France. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)
MARSEILLE, FRANCE - JANUARY 15: Bernardo Silva of Monaco celebrates his second goal during the French Ligue 1 match between Olympique de Marseille and AS Monaco at Stade Velodrome on January 15, 2017 in Marseille, France. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images) /
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Manchester United will fight Real Madrid for Bernardo Silva

Manchester United and Real Madrid are two of the richest football clubs in the world. The financial mettle of both clubs will be tested this summer as they battle for Monaco midfielder Bernardo Silva.

Reports from England claim that Jose Mourinho wants to bring Silva and Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann to Old Trafford this summer. United won’t succeed in purchasing the Monaco ace without a fight. Zinedine Zidane also has set his sights on the 22-year-old star this summer.

Officials at Monaco certainly don’t want to lose Silva, but they have to be delighted at the parties interested in his services. With heavyweights like that beating down their door, Monaco will be able to demand a huge premium for Silva. The speculation is that £70 million might represent the financial floor for the transfer negotiations.

Ironically, it’s entirely possible that Silva isn’t Monaco’s best young attacking midfielder. 21-year-old Frenchman Thomas Lemar has the same number of assists (four) as Silva and has scored three more goals. He also leads the Ligue 1 leaders with a Whoscored.com player rating average of 7.56.

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That doesn’t mean that Silva isn’t worth big-time interest. The Portuguese midfielder is clearly an excellent talent. His outstanding speed can threaten opposing defenses all over the pitch and his skill on the ball allows him to maneuver in tight spaces. Silva has more than enough ability to help either United or Real Madrid.

The real question at this point is which club better fits Silva. I feel the answer to that query simply has to be Real Madrid. Mourinho’s club may need a talent like Silva more than Zidane’s side, but that doesn’t mean they’d be in Silva’s best interest. When you see him on the pitch his talent truly screams that he should join Los Blancos.

Don’t expect United to give up the fight because Real Madrid play more stylish football. In fact, their need for a dynamic attacker of Silva’s quality should push the Premier League giants to make the superior bid. There’s no way Ed Woodward will allow his club to be outbid if they truly identify SIlva as a top transfer target.

Next: Ibra wants to stay at United for two more seasons

Antoine Griezmann may be grabbing all the transfer headlines today, but Bernardo Silva may become the hottest transfer saga of the summer. Manchester United and Real Madrid are prepared to battle it out for the talented midfielder.

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