Man City star offered ‘£650,000 a week’ pay rise as Pep Guardiola facing a problem

According to the Daily Star, the Saudi side, believed to be Al-Hilal, is going to submit a £70m-plus bid for the Portugal international on top of a bumper £41.6m annual package. Silva has two years left on his £150,000-a-week contract at the Etihad and Guardiola is said to be desperate to keep hold of him.

Yet the allure of a £650,000-a-week pay rise may be too much to turn down. City have already pushed back approaches from Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona for the player but are reportedly open to offers that exceed £60m.

If he does depart then he will join a growing list of top-quality players including N’Golo Kante, Ruben Neves, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo, who have all made the switch to Saudi Arabia.

He will also become yet another crucial member of Guardiola’s treble-winning side to depart this year. Ilkay Gundogan recently completed a move to Barcelona while Riyad Mahrez is expected to be on his way to Saudi Arabia as well.

The 32-year-old has reportedly agreed to join Al Ittihad on a four-year deal that would see him pocket £43m a year. Rivals Al Ahli were also said to be interested in acquiring his services and had offered a three-year deal worth £28.3m per annum but with more money on the table, Al Ittihad remain the favourites to snap him up.

Meanwhile, Kyle Walker and Aymeric Laporte are also linked with moves away this summer as the pressure mounts on Guardiola to strengthen his squad.

The Athletic report that both players have been left unhappy with their lack of prominence in Guardiola’s plans and are expected to depart.