How can Man City replace departing captain Silva?

There is a clear understanding and mutual respect between Guardiola and Silva, and one of the key reasons why he was handed the armband at the start of this season following the departure of De Bruyne on a free transfer.

Guardiola professed his "love" for Silva earlier this season, saying he had a "weakness" for the player and enthusing how he was "always there" - even during the lows of last season when the team finished third in the Premier League and failed to win a major trophy for the first time in nearly a decade.

Silva told BBC Sport in December that Guardiola has been a "massive" influence on his career and his boss has a "special affection for me" having played under him for nine years and enjoyed a trophy-laden era.

The Portuguese has player 451 matches in all competitions for City to sit inside the club's all-time top 10 appearance makers, scoring 76 goals and providing 77 assists.

All of those games have come under Guardiola - no player has been selected more times by the ex-Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager.

Silva has managed only three goals and five assists this season, but has played in more Premier League games than any other City player and it is his leadership qualities and reliability that Guardiola rates so highly.

He has clocked up a team-high 315.3km distance travelled during those games due to his hardworking nature, while Silva's carrying ability has allowed him to notch a total of 5,325m with the ball at his feet, a number unmatched by any team-mate.

Of top-flight players who have played more than 1,200 minutes this season, only four average more distance covered per 90 minutes than his 12.2km.

Even when Silva was sent off for a deliberate handball to prevent a goal against Real Madrid in their Champions League last-16 tie, which effectively ended any hope of a comeback in the second leg, Guardiola did not attach blame to the player for the action, saying it was "instinctive".

Former City midfielder Michael Brown said Silva was a "brilliant player" and described his performance against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final as "infectious, clever and cute".

He added on City TV: "He comes alive - when it feels dead he makes things happen. Bernardo doesn't always do something special but he is just there, he is a team player and someone you would always pick.

"He is someone who says, 'I'll drop in at left-back, I'll go on the right and create problems later on'. He has a bit of everything to his game and is unselfish. That is what is different, he is not necessarily a match-winner."