Man City may be set for formation tweak and new partnership if Bernardo Silva joins Barcelona

If Raheem Sterling or Gabriel Jesus leave Manchester City, it will be a disappointment but nothing the club can't overcome given their strength in depth in attack.

If Bernardo Silva leaves, however, City may find their Portuguese playmaker more difficult to cover. Barcelona didn't hide their interest in Bernardo as Pep Guardiola appeared at the Nou Camp on Monday alongside Barca president Joan Laporta, and Guardiola didn't exactly rule out Bernardo leaving.

Should Bernardo depart, it would leave a big hole in a midfield department that is already thinner after Fernandinho's departure. So maybe a subtle change in formation could help City adapt going forwards.

ALSO READ:River Plate manager discusses Julian Alvarez's 'contagious' quality that will please Man City

It's understandable if Bernardo still feels homesick or not entirely comfortable in Manchester, after he was open about his struggles during lockdown over the past year. So while Guardiola said he expects to keep the midfielder, he was careful not to declare Bernardo would definitely remain at City, saying he doesn't know what will happen.

Without Bernardo, City's midfield would consist of Rodri at the base, Kevin De Bruyne, and Ilkay Gundogan in the centre. That's a title-winning combination, but with another busy season, plus a World Cup in the middle of it, all three can't be asked to play every minute of every game.

There's talk of a new defensive midfielder arriving, possibly Kalvin Phillips, but this is a position that took Rodri a year or two to truly master, so any new signing must be given time, too. Jack Grealish and Phil Foden could drop back into the middle if needed, although perhaps a central attacking midfield role would suit them more and help