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Man City transfer news: Third Etihad star on Barcelona’s summer radar

Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
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FC Barcelona are reportedly interested in signing Manchester City defender Joao Cancelo, with the Catalan side already keen on Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva.

According to Sport, the La Liga giants are keen to add to the right-back position this summer, and Cancelo could be an ideal signing for Barcelona with City expected to sell the Portuguese international and Bayern Munich unlikely to take the defender back on a permanent deal.

Cancelo signed for the Bundesliga giants on loan in the January window, and despite impressive performances for Bayern in the division and in the UEFA Champions League, there is already an expectation that Julian Nagelsmann won’t sign the City-owned defender.

As a result, Barcelona could have a realistic shot at signing Cancelo in the summer, with Pep Guardiola ready to offload the 28-year-old for good, with a deal likely to be easier to complete for Barca than for the likes of Gundogan and Silva, who have both been linked with moves to the Camp Nou.

Paris Saint-Germain v FC Bayern München: Round of 16 Leg One - UEFA Champions League
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Indeed, Cancelo’s uncertain future in Manchester could result in Barcelona securing a bargain signing this summer, and given how complete the Portuguese international is at in the fullback position, City could soon regret allowing the defender to leave for a European rival.

Moreover, given how perilous Barcelona’s financial situation is, City could be forced into a position where they will sell Cancelo for cheap, something Guardiola himself might authorise given his cut-throat nature on offloading unwanted players and his links to the Catalan side.

Barcelona signing Cancelo could be the deal of the summer

Joao Cancelo
Photo by T. Kieslich/FC Bayern via Getty Images

Many would agree that Cancelo is one of the best fullbacks in Europe, with the former Juventus star accomplished on both flanks and a player who has contributed heavily to City’s success in the last few seasons. And for Barcelona, landing the Portuguese international could be the deal of the summer.

Cancelo has already impressed in La Liga during his days with Valencia, and with the defender now at the peak of his career, Barcelona signing the 28-year-old could be transfer that greatly improves Xavi’s backline, which whilst solid has been lacking a creative spark.