How can Man City replace departing captain Silva?

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."

Could England's Anderson be a replacement?

In September, Silva said he knows "exactly" what he is going to do when his deal comes to an end, but he has not yet revealed his next club.

He has been linked with La Liga leaders Barcelona, Serie A side Juventus and clubs in the United States, while Ligue 1 leaders Paris St-Germain have reportedly been suitors in the past.

City are understood to be interested in signing Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson in the summer, so could the England international - who looks set to go to the World Cup this summer - be the answer?

Anderson's work-rate has seen him cover the most distance of any Premier League player this season with 353.4km, while the 23-year-old also impressively leads the top-flight metrics for most touches of the ball (2844), possession won the most times (296), most fouls won (69) and most duels won (258).

Former City winger Shaun Wright-Phillips said: "You don't replace Silva, he is in many ways irreplaceable. He doesn't have a position, he is everywhere."

The club's former women's captain Steph Houghton added: "There is nobody that can do what he does. With Bernardo, he is a different kind of leader to Kompany or Fernandinho.

"A lot of it is through performances and about him leading the boys in doing certain things. You can't fault his effort every single time he pulls on a Manchester City shirt.

"No matter where he is playing, he gives absolutely everything."

Tactical analysis: City's coach on the pitch

At this point in the season, Silva is undroppable. His experience, tactical understanding and positional versatility make him Guardiola's coach on the pitch, capable of adapting his role to ensure City can tweak their tactics game to game.

A big part of his role this season has been assisting the team's build-up. Although City's new signings are capable, in a league where man-marking is more common this season, Silva has been seen dropping extremely deep.

In the 1-0 win at Leeds in February, Silva and Rodri dropped in as central defenders. This moved the centre-backs out of areas that are harder to play in under pressure, catching the opposition off-guard. Both midfielders excelled on the ball here and helped City progress up the pitch.

Bernardo Silva and Rodri took up centre-back positions in this City goal-kick against Leeds, allowing them to evade the opposition's press and move the ball up the pitch [BBC]

His role out of possession has been paramount to City's revival in the second part of the season too. The game against Liverpool in November showcased the City captain's tactical understanding of how and when to press.

City cut off passing lanes to Virgil van Dijk, forcing the ball to Ibrahima Konate, the weaker of Liverpool's two ball-playing centre-backs.

Phil Foden pressed Konate when the ball went out to him and Silva was tasked with deciding which of the midfielders to press, Ryan Gravenberch or Alexis Mac Allister, something he did intelligently.

Liverpool made tweaks of their own by dropping Gravenberch into the right of what later became a back three. It was Silva here who amended City's press, negating Liverpool's change.

Foden continued to press the right centre-back, Gravenberch, while Silva switched between pressing Mac Allister and Konate, who was now positioned in the middle of the back three.

It's easy for the small details to be missed by fans but Silva's contributions are indispensable for his manager.

"He doesn't score too many goals or is not involved in all the assists but he gives us something that is not in the stats, and a lot of things that are incredibly valuable to us," said Guardiola back in November.

"[He is] absolutely one of the best players I have ever trained in my career."

Silva's role against Liverpool in the Premier League out of possession changed mid-game. Here he is blocking the pass to Mac Allister behind him, while applying pressure to Konate on the ball [BBC]