Barcelona are in advanced talks to sign Manchester City’s right-back Joao Cancelo on loan with an option to buy him permanently according to CaughtOffside sources with knowledge of negotiations.
The Portuguese is understood to prefer a move to the La Liga outfit over any other option – including staying at City – and it’s believed that the Catalans are ready to pay City an extraordinarily low €18m for the compulsory purchase of the player 12 months from now.
Plenty of time for Barcelona to land Man City target
Barca have already agreed a four-year deal with Cancelo on personal terms, and sources indicate that he is also willing to accept a lower salary than his current £150,000-a-week package to expedite the move.
Although the full-back remains an option for Saudi Pro League sides, Al-Ahli and Al-Ettifaq, as well as Serie A giants, Juventus and Inter Milan, they will only enter the picture if Barca are unable to complete the deal with the Premier League champions.
It may be in fact that City do prefer to sell to a club in the Saudi Pro League, given that CaughtOffside sources are aware that they would guarantee a bid of €30m for Cancelo – significantly more than Barca are willing to pay.
In this type of situation, the will of the player will arguably come into play, and if the Cityzens don’t want to be lumbered with a player they don’t want and who clearly doesn’t want to be at the Etihad Stadium either, they’ll come to an arrangement that suits all parties.
From Barcelona’s perspective, they’ve allowed their versatile club captain, Sergi Roberto, to leave, so there’s a vacancy in Cancelo’s preferred right-back slot.
With Ronald Araujo out for months, Jules Kounde would swap from the right side to his more natural centre-back position, and this should give the defence more balance.
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