Man City might already know their Bernardo Silva replacement - and he won't cost a penny

Manchester City assistant Pep Lijnders confirmed this weekend that Bernardo Silva will leave the Etihad Stadium at the end of the season.

Manchester City assistant Pep Lijnders has confirmed Bernardo Silva will be leaving the Etihad Stadium at the end of this season. The Blues captain has enjoyed a phenomenal career since arriving from AS Monaco in 2017.

The 31-year-old will be remembered fondly by supporters for his role in some of City's best-ever moments. Having bid farewell to their fair share of legends over the last few years - Sergio Aguero, Vincent Kompany and Kevin De Bruyne to name just a few - the inevitable question will be where Bernardo ranks among the modern-day greats. But while that will occupy the conversation for fans, City have a more pressing matter to address.

After confirming Bernardo would leave City at the end of the season, Lijnders admitted it would be impossible to replace the midfielder. "You never replace a player with the same kind of player because they don't exist," he said.

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"Bernardo Silva is unique. The way he controls games, the way he moves, the way he receives, the way he leads, the way he sees the solutions. All these things. You never search for a replacement of one type of player. You search for what is needed to grow with the team and somebody who can fit in the first XI."

Few would disagree with that assessment, especially Pep Guardiola, who said he had a 'weakness' for the Portugal international earlier in the season.

The Liverpool win marked Bernardo's 450th appearance for the Blues and no player has been picked more by Guardiola during his managerial career. His versatility has also endeared him to City fans. He has played as an attacking midfielder, centre forward, right winger, left winger, central midfielder and even a full-back. Whatever Guardiola wanted him to do, Bernardo was willing to do it.

That versatility is priceless and makes the task of finding a suitable replacement for Bernardo trickier. However, in Nico O'Reilly, City might have the next best thing.

O'Reilly has enjoyed a breakout season for City. The 21-year-old was introduced to the first team last season but has cemented himself as a Guardiola favourite this year.

Despite coming through City's system as a midfielder, O'Reilly moved into the left-back role out of necessity due to Rayan Ait-Nouri's injury. It would have been easy for him to struggle but instead the academy star flourished.

Once Ait-Nouri was back, O'Reilly moved into midfield and became a goal threat. He scored a brace in the Premier League victory over Newcastle and became a hero with another in last month's Carabao Cup final victory over Arsenal.

This season, he has played in four different positions for City and looked equally composed in each of them. Barring injury, he should be guaranteed a spot in Thomas Tuchel's World Cup squad this summer and the call-up will not be his last.

City may go out in the summer and spend big on a new central midfielder to replace Bernardo. Both Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson and Newcastle United's Sandro Tonali have been linked.

But the Blues will want more than just a straight replacement for their captain. They need a player who can be as dependable as Bernardo, willing to play any position thrown at him and set the same high standards in each role.

O'Reilly could be that player.