Deal Close; Man City Boss Pep Guardiola is ready to allow £50m star to join Mikel Arteta at Arsenal before the pre-season

This post has been viewed 15 times.

In an exclusive revelation, FootballTransfers can confirm that talks between Arsenal and Joao Cancelo are advancing positively, indicating a potential move for the Portuguese player. Mikel Arteta’s side has harbored interest in Cancelo for some time, as we previously reported in May.

Furthermore, negotiations between Arsenal and Manchester City have been underway for a while, with Cancelo and Gunners left-back Kieran Tierney being the key figures involved.

Sources close to the matter have disclosed that discussions between Arsenal and Cancelo’s representatives have made significant headway since May.

Manchester City has placed a price tag of approximately £45 million (€53m) on the full-back, a valuation that aligns closely with FootballTransfers’ Expected Transfer Value (xTV) of €55.6m. It is understood that Arsenal intends to initiate the negotiation process with an initial bid of £35 million in the upcoming days.

Should the deal materialize, Cancelo would assume the role of the starting right-back at the Emirates, providing Arteta with the flexibility to utilize Ben White as a backup in that position, as well as a cover option for William Saliba in the center-back role.

This strategic move would enable Arsenal to forgo the need to seek a central defender in the transfer market and instead concentrate their efforts on securing a deal for the highly sought-after Declan Rice.

Cancelo’s Recent Turmoil

Joao Cancelo made a notable transfer to Manchester City in 2019, completing a deal worth €65 million. However, reports suggest that City is prepared to accept a financial loss on the player, as head coach Pep Guardiola has expressed a desire to part ways with him.

A falling out between the two parties resulted in Cancelo being sent on loan to Bayern Munich in January, where he played a pivotal role in securing the Bavarians’ 11th consecutive Bundesliga title. Despite his contributions, the German club has shown no intention of retaining Cancelo on a permanent basis, at least not at City’s asking price.

Barcelona has emerged as another interested party in Cancelo’s services. However, their pursuit of the player hinges on their ability to offload certain assets first. Furthermore, questions arise regarding City’s willingness to allow Cancelo to join Barcelona, given their intervention in January to halt his imminent transfer to the Camp Nou.

There are also lingering doubts surrounding Arsenal’s pursuit of Cancelo. Last season, City inadvertently strengthened the Gunners by selling Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko to them, inadvertently bolstering their title contention. It remains to be seen if Guardiola is inclined to further fortify Arsenal’s squad.

negotiations between Arsenal and Joao Cancelo have taken a positive trajectory, signaling a potential move for the Portuguese full-back. While the valuation and other clubs’ interest present certain hurdles, should this transfer materialize, it would provide Arsenal with a significant boost in their defensive options and allow them to shift their focus towards securing other key targets. The football world eagerly awaits further developments in this ongoing saga.