Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are reportedly ready to make a bid for Manchester City full-back Joao Cancelo.
Football Transfers have reported this afternoon that Arsenal’s talks with Manchester City full-back Joao Cancelo are “progressing positively”.
Arsenal and Premier League champions City are also in talks.
The report has added that City want £45 million in transfer fees for the Portugal international, and that Arsenal will make an opening bid of £35 million for Cancelo “in the coming days”.
Manchester City full-back Joao Cancelo would make Arsenal better
In our view, Manchester City full-back Joao Cancelo would make Arsenal better.
The 29-year-old reportedly fell out with City manager Pep Guardiola during the season and was sent out on loan to Bayern Munich in the January transfer window.
That does not mean that the Portugal international – described as “outstanding” by former Citizens star Paul Dickov – is a bad player.
At 29, Cancelo is at the top of his game now and knows the Premier League inside out.
We believe that the £180,000-a-week (SalarySport) full-back would walk into the Arsenal starting lineup and would make the Gunners better.
Former City star Joleon Lescott’s previous comments on Cancelo show just what kind of a player Arsenal would get if they signed him.
In December 2021, Lescott told City’s official website while rejecting on Cancelo’s goal and performance against Newcastle United: “I don’t know many strikers who can score a goal like that!
“He’s the most composed defender I’ve seen. He’s like a midfielder, he’s really comfortable. With the ability to finish too, that’s unique.”
True, Cancelo’s 2022-23 season has not been particularly great on a personal level, but he is one of the best full-backs around and Arsenal would be a better team with him in it.
Cancelo has made 98 appearances in the Premier League so far in his career, scoring five goals and creating 22 big chances in the process.
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