Barcelona have reportedly beaten a host of top Premier League clubs to sign Valencia full-back Joao Cancelo.
Spanish publication Sport have ran an exclusive that Barcelona are set to sign Valencia full-back Joao Cancelo in the summer of 2017. The 22-year-old has been courted by the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea and Bayern Munich. But, it seems the Catalan giants have beaten others to the Portuguese international.
Joao Cancelo arrived at Valencia before the start of the 2015-16 season and immediately established himself as an indispensable part of the first-team setup at the Mestalla. The 22-year-old made 28 appearances in La Liga in his debut season and was highly impressive in an otherwise rough campaign for the club.
Cancelo has had a very tough campaign this season while Valencia find themselves precariously close to the relegation places. The player has performed admirably, featuring in all of the club’s La Liga fixtures but has been unable to stop the goals from leaking.
He has been on the radar of Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea and Bayern Munich among other clubs as each of them aimed for a long-term solution to the problems at the right side of the defence. Barcelona, though, have been long-term admirers of the 22-year-old.
The Catalans have been pursuing the player since the summer transfer window and even though Sergi Roberto has evolved into a natural in what was a make-shift role at right-back, Joao Cancelo is on the top of the priority transfer targets at Nou Camp.
And if reports emerging from Spain are to believed, Barcelona have managed to steal a march on other suitors and are set to sign the 22-year-old before the beginning of the 2017-18 campaign. It is being reported that the club has even reached an agreement with the player and his representatives over a summer move.
Even though a fee with Valencia is yet to be agreed, Joao Cancelo is reported to have agreed a five-year contract with Barcelona in a deal that is to remain under the wraps till the end of the season. Valencia is expected to ask around €30m for the player, a fee the Barcelona hierarchy are ready and willing to part with.
It is being reported that Joao Cancelo has requested Valencia not to sell him in January as he aims to aid the club in staying in La Liga. And once the season ends, the 22-year-old would be set to move to Nou Camp.
