Exclusive: “My expectation…” – Fabrizio Romano responds to Arsenal transfer links with Premier League star

Arsenal have been linked with a surprise transfer interest in Manchester City attacking midfielder Bernardo Silva, but Fabrizio Romano thinks that if he leaves the Etihad Stadium this summer he’s more likely to go abroad.

Speaking exclusively to CaughtOffside for his latest Daily Briefing column, Romano responded to the surprise transfer rumours involving Silva and Arsenal, stating that he’s not aware of anything concrete happening there for the moment.

The Gunners could perhaps do with bringing in new attacking players this summer after the likes of Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli have suffered dips in form this season, but it perhaps seems unlikely that City would be prepared to sell Silva to one of their main title rivals.

At the same time, the Portugal international has a release clause, so Arsenal could trigger that if they wanted to, and it would then be out of City’s hands.

According to Romano, though, it seems more likely that the 29-year-old would move abroad, with the journalist name-dropping Barcelona as someone with an interest in him.

Bernardo Silva transfer: Romano on those surprise Arsenal links

“Arsenal did well when they signed both Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko from Manchester City almost two years ago, and now there’s been speculation from some outlets about them trying again to raid City, this time for Bernardo Silva,” Romano said.

“Sorry to disappoint any Arsenal fans who had got their hopes up, but I have zero information on Arsenal and Bernardo so far, to be honest. The Portugal international’s release clause is there for £50m but obviously Man City don’t want Bernardo to stay in the Premier League and play for one of their rivals.

“My expectation for Bernardo, if he does leave City this