Barcelona are reportedly plotting an audacious swoop to sign Portuguese international Joao Cancelo from Juventus in January.
According to a report by Spanish publication Don Balon, Barcelona are still in the market for a full-back, with their latest target being Joao Cancelo. The Blaugrana are set to pursue a bold January move for the Portuguese international, who only joined Juventus this past summer.
The full-back slots have become a major cause for concern for Barcelona. Jordi Alba, who is the only recognised left-back at Ernesto Valverde’s disposal, has his future up in the air. The situation on the opposite flank isn’t much better either.
Nelson Semedo’s inability to adjust to life as a Barcelona player has meant that Sergi Roberto has had to continue playing as a right-back, even though his preference is to be deployed in midfield. While Roberto has done a commendable job for the most part, it is Semedo’s slow progress that is irking Valverde.
With patience wearing thin in the Barcelona camp, Semedo does not have a lot of time to secure his future at Camp Nou. With Moussa Wague’s pathway to the first-team not defined yet either, the Blaugrana are scouring the market for possible reinforcements for the right side of their defence. Their latest target is Joao Cancelo.
Cancelo has found a new lease of life in Serie A football, firstly enjoying a promising campaign on loan at Inter Milan before joining Juventus in a permanent deal this past summer. At the Allianz Stadium, the Portuguese international has quickly settled in, and has been one of the most impressive performers to date for the Bianconeri.
The reason Cancelo stands out as a target is because he offers a consistently potent threat in the final third while also being solid in his defensive duties. With that in mind, Barcelona are set to launch the offensive for the Portuguese international in the January transfer window.
In fact, Barcelona have already prepared a bid worth €60 million to test Juventus’s resolve. The Catalans are also willing to add Nelson Semedo to sweeten the deal. However, persuading Juve to part ways with Cancelo will likely be a tall order, considering the Portuguese international has already established himself as a key part of the first-team setup.
Joao Cancelo is an attractive target for Barcelona, especially considering his experience in La Liga. But, a January move looks like an unlikely prospect as of now, with Cancelo admittedly happy at Juventus.
