Manchester City assistant manager Pep Lijnders has hinted that Bernardo Silva’s nine-year tenure at the club could conclude this summer, saying, "every good story comes to an end."

The 31-year-old midfielder’s contract expires at the end of the season, and he has yet to sign an extension. Silva has been linked with moves to Barcelona, Juventus, and clubs in the United States.

Speaking to the media after City’s 4-0 FA Cup quarter-final win over Liverpool, while manager Pep Guardiola served a touchline ban, Lijnders praised Silva’s impact on the team. "You never replace a player with the same kind of player because they don't exist," he said. "Bernardo Silva is unique. The way he controls games, the way he moves, the way he receives, the way he leads, the way he sees the solutions… all these things. But every good story comes to an end, and I hope he enjoys the last months—there are only six weeks—and has a good farewell. He deserves all that attention as well."

Silva, who joined City from Monaco in 2017, marked his 450th appearance for the club in Saturday’s win. The midfielder recently won his 18th piece of silverware with the club following City’s Carabao Cup triumph. Guardiola, a long-time admirer, has often relied on Silva, making him captain after Kevin De Bruyne’s departure at the end of last season.

Lijnders also addressed City’s plans for the future, highlighting the importance of the club’s academy and youth development. "You never search for a replacement of one type of player," he said. "You search for what is needed to grow with the team and somebody who can fit in the first 11. With our academy and the young players we already bought, they can make that step in midfield positions. The most important is that the seniors who stay for a long time remain, and around that, you can move."

City have been linked with a summer move for Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson as they plan for the post-Silva era. 

#From BBC