Arsenal is reportedly eyeing a potential summer move for Manchester City’s Joao Cancelo, considering a swoop if Barcelona cannot secure the full-back on a permanent deal.
Having spent the latter half of the previous season on loan at Bayern Munich, Cancelo embarked on a temporary stint at Barcelona for the 2023-24 campaign, where he has emerged as a crucial player under the guidance of head coach Xavi.
In his time at Barcelona, the 29-year-old has featured in 32 matches across La Liga and the Champions League, contributing significantly with four goals and four assists while adeptly operating in various defensive roles.
Despite being under contract with Manchester City until June 2027, Cancelo’s future appears to be elsewhere, given his diminishing role under manager Pep Guardiola.
In a recent statement, Cancelo accused Manchester City of being ungrateful and refuted claims made by Guardiola regarding his attitude during his tenure at the club.
Reports suggest that Manchester City is open to selling Cancelo in the upcoming summer transfer window, and the player himself has expressed his desire to secure a permanent move to Barcelona.
However, Barcelona seems hesitant to meet Manchester City’s £40 million valuation of Cancelo due to financial constraints.
The Catalan club is reportedly unwilling to commit to anything beyond a loan arrangement for Cancelo for another season.
Should Barcelona’s pursuit of Cancelo falter, Arsenal stands ready to capitalize on the opportunity and make a move for the full-back.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is familiar with Cancelo from their time together at Manchester City, where Arteta served as Guardiola’s assistant.
Arsenal has a history of acquiring talent from Manchester City, having secured the services of Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko for a combined fee exceeding £70 million in the summer of 2022.
Cancelo’s versatility, experience at the highest level, and ability to operate across various positions on the field make him an attractive prospect for Arteta and Arsenal.
Since joining Manchester City in 2019, Cancelo has amassed 154 appearances across all competitions, contributing nine goals and 22 assists while clinching three Premier League titles and one EFL Cup.
