Bernardo Silva given ‘lucrative opportunity to join Saudi Pro League’ as Jorge Mendes holds talks

Bernardo Silva has been given a ‘lucrative opportunity’ to join the avalanche of players the Saudi Pro League is looking to recruit.

Talks have been held with his agent Jorge Mendes and money has been raised, although it is not clear whether an official offer has been made.

The expectation is that the Portuguese playing virtuoso will reject the advance, according to this David Ornstein of The Athletic.

Currently, the club in association with Silva is uncredited.

Paris Saint-Germain have also identified him as a potential replacement for Lionel Messi, while Barcelona seem to have been intrigued by him since the dawn of time.

It comes after he completed the Treble with Manchester City where he has won 14 trophies

Widely regarded as one of the best midfielders in the world and solid at his best at 28 years old, Silva would make a stunning coup for the Saudi Pro League.

Dozens of high-profile players have been linked to the Middle Eastern nation, and if he left for Saudi shores, Silva would be the latest in a string of sensational transfers.

Recently, the Saudi Public Investment Fund acquired 75% ownership stakes in four of the country’s biggest clubs – Al-Ittihad, Al-Nassr, Al-Ahli and Al-Hilal – with the aim of positioning top talent in each team.

This summer, Karim Benzema and Ruben Neves have already kicked things up a notch, and countless others are flirting with the prospect.

Benzema, who won the Ballon d’Or last October, was offered £86 million per season to lure him away from the trappings of elite European football.

While the Frenchman’s new club, Al-Ittihad, drew in around 40,000 fans every home game, the average attendance in the Saudi Pro League this season has been just over 10,000 – several hundred below the League One average.

Compatriot Ruben Neves moves to Al-Hilal in £47m transfer from Wolves