BARCELONA are reportedly in discussions with Manchester City regarding the potential signing of Joao Cancelo.
The Portuguese wing-back, who made a deadline-day loan move to Bayern Munich last season due to limited game time at Man City, seems to be on the radar of Barcelona.
Cancelo’s loan to Bayern included an option to buy, but the German club does not seem interested in making the move permanent. As a result, the Portuguese player has returned to Manchester City and has already featured in their pre-season matches.
According to TalkSPORT, Barcelona aims to secure a permanent deal for Cancelo, utilizing some of the funds from selling Ousmane Dembele to PSG.
The Premier League champions appear keen on parting ways with the defender permanently rather than another loan deal.
In response to Dembele’s desire to leave and join PSG, Barcelona’s manager Xavi acknowledged the need to strengthen the squad, particularly in the right-back position.
He expressed his disappointment at Dembele’s departure, stating that they cannot compete with PSG’s bid, which is beyond their financial reach.
The potential transfer of Joao Cancelo comes amid uncertainty surrounding Manchester City’s right-back position. Kyle Walker is reportedly considering a move to Bayern Munich, with discussions rumored to have taken place during pre-season. However, no agreement has been reached between the clubs yet.
Should both Walker and Cancelo depart, Manchester City would face significant challenges in their wing-back options. The departure of these key players would require the team to seek suitable replacements to maintain their competitive edge.