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Barcelona appear to be leading the race to secure Portuguese star Bernardo Silva on a free transfer this summer, with the Manchester City midfielder set to leave the Premier League champions at the end of his contract.

Although Atletico Madrid have also shown serious interest, Silva has reportedly made it clear to Los Rojiblancos that his preference is to join Barcelona.

The Catalan giants had been awaiting the green light from new head coach Hansi Flick, who initially had some doubts due to the already strong competition in creative midfield positions at the club.

According to RAC 1, as cited by Mundo Deportivo, Flick has now given his full approval for the deal, removing one of the final internal barriers to completing the signing.

The 31-year-old’s contract with Manchester City officially expires on June 30 after nine seasons at the Etihad Stadium, meaning Barcelona can sign him without paying a transfer fee.

Silva is also said to be ready to accept a wage cut compared to his earnings in England, which would help alleviate some of Barcelona’s ongoing financial concerns as they continue to manage their wage bill under La Liga’s financial rules.

He was a long-term target of former coach Xavi Hernandez, though Manchester City had refused to negotiate a sale at the time. Now, with his contract ending, Silva’s focus is entirely on joining Barcelona, having turned down offers from Atletico Madrid and other European clubs while waiting for Barça’s formal approach.

However, the move cannot be finalised yet. Barcelona must first offload at least one player to create the necessary salary and registration space required for Silva’s arrival.

Marc Casado and Roony Bardghji have been identified as the most likely departures. Interestingly, Casado’s agent, Jorge Mendes, also represents Bernardo Silva, which could help facilitate negotiations. Casado has also been linked with a potential move to AS Monaco in recent weeks.

Silva’s versatility makes him a particularly attractive addition for Flick. Capable of operating as a double pivot, an attacking midfielder, or even on the right wing, he brings not only creativity but also exceptional consistency—having missed only 26 matches across club and international football over the last 11 seasons.

Should the deal go through, Silva would become one of the marquee signings of the summer and a key element in Flick’s vision to strengthen Barcelona’s midfield depth and technical quality.