Arsenal are keen on Joao Cancelo ahead of the summer as Mikel Arteta ramps up his efforts to bring a new right back.
According to Matt Law of The Telegraph, Joao Cancelo has emerged as a key target for Mikel Arteta. The Arsenal boss wants to bring a new right-back in the summer to provide competition to Ben White. While they are keen on the 28-year-old Manchester City star, any move will lead to complications.
Multiple reports in the middle of the Premier League season suggested Manchester City would no longer sell their players to Arsenal. The Gunners managed to sign Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko last summer, which transformed the team into title challengers.
Upon seeing the duo’s success in north London, Manchester City decided against dealing again with the Gunners. However, the north Londoners are now linked with a move for wantaway full-back Joao Cancelo. The 28-year-old Manchester City star has endured a difficult season but could move on once the season ends.
Cancelo was surprisingly loaned out to Bayern Munich in January after reports of falling out with Pep Guardiola. Mikel Arteta might see the 28-year-old Manchester City star as a perfect fit for his system, which currently misses a player of his quality.
Arteta wants a player who could invert from the right-back position, and Cancelo excelled in the role under Guardiola on both flanks. Arsenal are keen on a right back, with many options being explored. Real Valladolid’s Ivan Fresneda is a key target, while others are considered alternatives.
RB Leipzig’s Mohamed Simakan also features on their radar, but if Arsenal can get Cancelo, they would readily make a move. However, the problem could come from Manchester City, who have Cancelo tied until 2027, meaning they can dictate his future.
The second issue could come from his potential asking price. While Manchester City have given Bayern Munich the option to sign Cancelo permanently for around €72 million, they could demand more from Arsenal. Edu Gaspar and Mikel Arteta are unlikely to spend heavily on the 28-year-old Manchester City star.
Hence, a move could come into doubt ahead of the summer, as Arsenal may look at alternatives to the 28-year-old Manchester City star. They have other areas as priorities to strengthen in the summer, as reports have indicated at a big summer for the Gunners.
