Chelsea Transfer News: Bernardo Silva Interest Revealed, Latest Blues Rumours

Monaco's vice-president Vadim Vasilyev has confirmed interest in Bernardo Silva from several major European clubs, amid reports that Chelsea are preparing a £70 million bid for the midfielder.

The Portugal international has caught the eye this season with some fine displays, and now the Premier League leaders are weighing up a huge bid in the summer, per The Times (h/t Liam Twomey of ESPN FC).

The Ligue 1 club's Vasilyev confirmed Silva had attracted plenty of interest.

Vasilyev said: "Yes, yes. I really don't want to go into details, but for all our major players, we do have interest from major European clubs.

"This is not the right time to talk about it. Let's finish the season and then we can look at our project for next season. Me, the coach and the players are focused on this season."

Silva has also been linked with Manchester United, who are among a host of top clubs keen on the 22-year-old star, per Andrew Richardson of The Sun.

An attacking midfielder, Silva has sublime technical ability and has been the fulcrum of the free-scoring side from the principality—76 goals has helped them to the top of Ligue 1.

Silva has been influential this season, netting six goals and assisting seven in the league, per Transfermarkt.

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Certainly, a case could be made that should Silva come to the Premier League, his lack of height at 5'7" could present a problem amid the cut-and-thrust, robust nature of midfields in the top division.

However, while he is perhaps a touch diminutive, the former Benfica ace can look to the success namesake David Silva has enjoyed while in England with Manchester City—the pair certainly share a lot of similar traits.

As Oliver Yew of Sky Sports noted of the Monaco man: "What he lacks in physical stature he makes up for in technical skill and ability to read the game."

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Indeed, Silva's quick feet and poise when coming in from the right flank are attributes reminiscent of Barcelona legend Lionel Messi, and at such a young age, he has plenty of time to develop into one of the world's top midfielders.

Allied to his skill and threat in the final third, there is an impressive work rate in Silva's makeup. He can be tenacious in the tackle, and that would surely appeal to managers who instruct their players to track back and contribute to their team's overall defensive structure.

Silva is a prized asset whose style would appear to fit in well with either Chelsea or United.

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Both clubs have an abundance of attacking options, but at the reported £70 million, it would seem that Blues boss Antonio Conte views Silva as a candidate who could enhance his first-team lineup rather than someone to fill out his squad.

United, on the other hand, will surely view the fact that Silva is represented by Gestifute and superagent Jorge Mendes as a positive.

Red Devils' manager Jose Mourinho is also under Mendes' guidance, and it would be of little surprise if Silva were to end up at Old Trafford as United look to position themselves back at the height of the domestic and European game next season.