Arsenal are considering a surprising move to sign a Manchester City player whom Guardiola has decided to part ways with, following the diminishing hopes of a potential return to Barcelona.
According to a report, Arsenal could potentially secure a surprising signing from Manchester City, as Barcelona’s failure to meet the demands for Pep Guardiola has created an opportunity.
Barcelona’s failure to meet Manchester City’s demands for the sale of Pep Guardiola’s superstar has created an opportunity for Arsenal to make a move, as per a report.
Two well-known players, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus, have already made the switch from Etihad to Emirates in recent times. According to Sport, a third, even more high-profile player could be next.
The future of versatile full-back Joao Cancelo is uncertain, with all reports indicating that he will not remain in Manchester.
Having fallen out with Guardiola in the first half of the previous season, the 29-year-old was subsequently loaned out to Bayern Munich.
After Bayern decided not to exercise their option to buy last summer, they allowed Cancelo to go on loan again, this time to Barcelona.
Cancelo has performed exceptionally well in Spain, as expected. He played a crucial role in City’s title-winning campaigns in 2020/21 and 2021/22, but his influence diminished when Guardiola altered his tactics.
Currently, the City manager prefers to deploy center-backs in the full-back positions, with Kyle Walker being the only survivor of this tactical change.
Consequently, several sources in Spain have reported that Man City intends to sell Cancelo this summer. They strongly lean towards a permanent departure rather than another loan.
On the basis of Cancelo’s exceptional performances for Barcelona, both as a right-back and left-back, it comes as no surprise that the LaLiga giants are keen on re-signing him.
Barcelona’s desire to bring Cancelo back raises the question of whether they can afford such a move. In a recent interview with Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona president Joan Laporta expressed his belief that Cancelo, along with Joao Felix, would continue with the club. Laporta also mentioned that he hopes Atletico Madrid and Manchester City, where the players are currently on loan, will not object to their continued stay at Barcelona. He revealed that negotiations are being handled by agent Jorge Mendes, who is aware of Barcelona’s intention to retain the players. However, Laporta admitted that the final decision will depend on financial considerations, whether it involves signing them permanently or extending their loan with a set price.
Fabrizio Romano, a renowned transfer expert, shed light on Laporta’s statement, explaining that it referred to a loan arrangement with an option or obligation to buy.
However, a recent update from Sport suggests that Manchester City is likely to hold out for a permanent sale rather than a loan deal. This poses a challenge for Barcelona, as they may struggle to finance such a transfer, potentially paving the way for other clubs to make a move for Cancelo.
Interestingly, there is also speculation of interest from the Saudi Pro League, but Sport reports that Arsenal is also in the mix for a surprising switch for Cancelo.
Last summer, there were rumors linking the Gunners with Cancelo, but they ultimately decided to sign Jurrien Timber instead, who is equally versatile.
It remains to be seen if Arsenal will seriously pursue Cancelo, especially considering he will turn 30 in May. Their decision may depend on whether or not Manchester City is willing to sell to a direct title rival.
It is worth noting that Arsenal finished fifth in the previous season before acquiring Zinchenko and Jesus from City. It is unclear if Guardiola’s side would be willing to further strengthen the Gunners now that they are genuine title contenders.
Regardless, signing Cancelo would be a significant achievement for Mikel Arteta and his team. He would bring valuable experience of winning major trophies consistently, something that Arsenal’s relatively young squad currently lacks.
Cancelo was recognized in the Premier League teams of the season in both 2021 and 2022. He also earned a place in the FIFPro World XI in 2022.
According to Sport, Cancelo’s preference is to play for Barcelona in the upcoming seasons. However, if Manchester City insists on a permanent deal or nothing, Arsenal could potentially explore the opportunity.
