Barcelona are optimistic that they will sign Manchester City defender Joao Cancelo despite interest from Arsenal.
According to Sport, Barcelona are aware that Arsenal are in for Joao Cancelo following Jurrien Timber’s injury.
However, the Spanish outlet claims that the La Liga side are still confident that they can win the race for the full-back’s signature and already have an agreement with him.
Cancelo does not seem to be part of Pep Guardiola’s plans after spending the second half of last season on loan at Bayern Munich.
The 29-year-old, who cost his current employers £60m, has since returned to the Etihad but was left out of City’s squad for their first Premier League game of the season.
Arsenal need to push Barcelona all the way
Arsenal should not give up so easily in this battle for Cancelo’s signature. The Portugal international could be a great signing for them, especially after Timber’s injury.
He can play at both right-back and left-back, which makes him an extremely useful asset.
For whatever reason, Guardiola is not keen on Cancelo right now, but he is a player who the City boss undoubtedly rates.
“He has incredible quality,” Guardiola said in a press conference a few years ago when discussing the former Juventus man.
Nevertheless, it is almost certain that Cancelo will leave the European champions this summer, but City’s loss could certainly be someone else’s gain.
As things stand, Barcelona seem to be in pole position to land the defender. From City’s perspective, it also makes more sense to let him move to the Spotify Camp Nou instead of the Emirates. Do they really want to strengthen their rivals again after selling them Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko? Probably not.
Still, if there is a slight chance that Arsenal can sign Cancelo before the transfer market shuts in September, then they have to go for it.
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