Arsenal might have taken a step closer to Joao Cancelo, a target for Barcelona, after making positive progress in talks with Manchester City.
According to a report by Football Transfers, Joao Cancelo has inched closer to joining Arsenal in the summer transfer window. The Portuguese international is also a target for Barcelona. But talks between Manchester City and the Gunners are progressing well.
Joao Cancelo has reached a crucial juncture in his career. The 29-year-old is still at the peak of his powers but does not know where he will ply his trade next season. Bayern Munich will not sign him permanently, while Manchester City will look to cash in on him in the summer transfer window.
The Portuguese international turned out 21 times for Bayern Munich, chipping in with one goal and six assists. Meanwhile, despite the uncertainty surrounding Cancelo’s future, he does not have any shortage of suitors. And Arsenal and Barcelona are keen on signing him in the summer transfer window.
Ben White was the first-choice right-back for Arsenal in the 2022/23 season. But the Englishman is primarily a centre-back who excelled as a defensive-minded right-back. So it behoves Arsenal to sign a right-back who can influence the proceedings in the final third. And that will help them unlock a new facet of gameplay.
Cancelo’s name has thus emerged as a viable target for Arsenal heading into the summer transfer window. And the Gunners have been in talks with Manchester City over a deal for the Portuguese international. In addition, Arsenal might be in a healthy-enough position to afford the price tag of £45 million. But they face stiff competition from Barcelona in the race to sign the 29-year-old.
The newly-crowned La Liga champions have had a long-standing right-back issue. And they have failed to find a solution to their woes since Dani Alves’s first stint ended. Barcelona will thus enter the market for a right-back in the summer transfer window. And the Manchester City defender is a top target for Barcelona.
But Barcelona might not be in a position to afford his valuation of £45 million. So Arsenal will have the edge over the Blaugrana in the rice to sign the 29-year-old. It will be interesting to see where the Portuguese international plies his trade in the 2023/24 season.
