Bernardo Silva was once again heavily linked with a move away from the Etihad last summer. The Portuguese's future at
Manchester City is yet again up for debate after continuous transfer links with
Barcelona and
Paris Saint-Germain, and if he does move on then Lucas Paqueta could be the perfect replacement. Bernardo penned a one-year contract extension in August to keep him at the Etihad until 2026 but that hasn't stopped him being linked with an exit. He has previously expressed his desire to end his career at boyhood club Benfica. The Portuguese joined City from Monaco in 2017 and has been imperative to City's success over recent years. The midfielder has nine goals and five assists this campaign and there is no doubt over his standing at City. READ MORE: Pep Guardiola's Anthony Taylor verdict amid Man City frustration with
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Premier League titles, two FA Cups, four League Cups and a
Champions League to his name, Bernardo could add another three trophies to his haul this season. He is sure to go down as a club legend at the Etihad. Bernardo is undoubtedly one of City's most important players and his outstanding ability, work rate and ability to play in a number of roles make him a key member of City's squad. Should he move on from City this summer, a huge void will be left in Pep Guardiola's midfield. The question then would be who can replace Bernardo, and could Paqueta finally make the move to the Etihad and be his replacement? Paqueta's move to City broke down last summer. Instead, City signed Matheus Nunes from Wolves , who is yet to establish himself in Guardiola's starting XI. Paqueta's skills and work rate make him an ideal candidate to replace Bernardo and he has shone for West Ham this season. While Paqueta isn't as versatile as Bernardo, he is a tremendous player in his own right. He is the perfect Guardiola player and the way he plays would suit City's style of play. The
Brazil international joined the Hammers for £50million in 2022 and they would therefore want to make a significant profit on him should they receive an offer from City. Paqueta still has three years remaining on his current contract at the
London Stadium. This season, he has made 33 appearances for West Ham, scoring seven goals and providing six assists across all competitions. Paqueta is a dedicated attacking midfielder, he likes to look for the quick, incisive through ball (which he does to great effect) and under the coaching of Guardiola he could excel in a City shirt. The future of Bernardo will continue to be questioned going into the summer transfer window and should the City star decide to move on, Paqueta could prove to be the perfect replacement.