In the last few days, FC Barcelona have been focusing all their energies on the transfer of a right-back, as this position is the only serious weakness in Xavi’s squad. While the club has strengthened other main areas of the team, this position remains to be reinforced, with only a few days left in the summer transfer window.
The Catalans have identified their main targets for this position for some time now, and the most preferred option right now is the Portuguese fullback, Joao Cancelo. The Manchester City right-back has been linked with Barcelona for the last two months, but the club seems to have made a breakthrough in this transfer now.
Barcelona nearing an agreement with Manchester City
According to the reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano, the Catalan club wants to complete the transfer of Joao Cancelo as soon as possible, and has scheduled talks with Manchester City for the fullback this weekend. The two clubs are getting closer to an agreement for the fullback, and the gap between the demands of the two clubs seems to be shortening.
Romano further claims that Cancelo’s will join the Catalan club on a loan, which will surely include a purchase option at the end of the season. However, this purchase option will not be mandatory, and Barcelona will have the liberty on whether to buy Cancelo permanently or not when this loan period expires.
Only final details remain to be smoothed out, after which the deal will be finalized between the two clubs.
Guardiola unclear about Cancelo’s future
This report by Romano builds on the recent comments given by the Manchester City coach, Pep Guardiola. Mundo Deportivo reports that in his press conference prior to the match against Newcastle United, the former Barcelona coach was asked about Cancelo, to which he replied:
“Joao Cancelo is still with us, and right now I don’t know what will happen, I don’t know.”
Cancelo has not been a crucial component of Manchester City for the last few months, and there were reports of him falling out with Guardiola in the last season. After returning from loan at Bayern Munich, the fullback last played in a City shirt against Atletico Madrid in the pre-season, about one month ago.
Thus, everything indicates that Cancelo is getting nearer and nearer to Barcelona, and his transfer can be announced in the coming few days.
