Barcelona ‘prioritise signing Man City outcast’ Joao Cancelo but will have to pay £17.5m loan transfer fee
BARCELONA have reportedly made Manchester City outcast Joao Cancelo their “priority signing” this summer.
The defender, 28, joined German club Bayern Munich on loan for the rest of the season after falling out with Pep Guardiola.
The pair were reportedly involved in a training ground bust-up after Cancelo found out he was dropped for the club’s FA Cup clash against Arsenal.
This came as Guardiola tweaked his system after questioning his players’ hunger to win the Premier League again.
With Cancelo’s and the City boss’ relationship becoming strained, the club took the bold decision to allow Cancelo to leave on loan.
The Portuguese international started life at Bayern in impressive fashion and already has one goal and four assists from his eight appearances.
However, it has now emerged that the star is growing frustrated after being benched by the Bundesliga side’s boss Julian Nagelsmann.
And it seems unlikely that Bayern will take up their option to buy him permanently for £60m.
But he will still have another option regarding his future with Barcelona making him a priority signing, according to Spanish outlet SPORT.
City are allegedly prepared to do business and would sanction another loan departure.
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Although they are demanding a fee of at least £17.5m from Barcelona to borrow him.
Nou Camp president Joan Laporta has already revealed that he will attempt to sign a new full-back over the summer.
Veteran Sergi Roberto is the only recognised right-back in the current squad.
City signed the player in a £60m deal three-and-a-half years ago from Juventus.
Cancelo only signed a contract extension with City 12 months ago and is currently tied to the club until summer 2027.