Xavi’s FC Barcelona are closing in on a loan move for Manchester City’s Joao Cancelo this summer, it has been reported.
The Catalan giants are on the hunt for a new fullback this summer amid reports that they will be terminating the contract of current option Sergino Dest. Not at the club last season, it was often Jules Kounde or Ronald Araujo that found themselves playing at right-back, but both prefer to be used centrally.
“With the departure of [Ousmane] Dembele, we need a pure right-back now”, Xavi explained after the 1-0 pre-season win over AC Milan.
They are eyeing up Cancelo to fill the gap, with the Portuguese defender out in the cold in Manchester.
Cancelo spent the last part of last season out on loan at Bayern Munich after falling out with Pep Guardiola in the New Year.
Now back at the Etihad, he doesn’t seem to have a long term future in Manchester and was not part of the matchday squad for the opening night win over Burnley.
Barring some dramatic change in Barcelona’s finances, the option to buy is unlikely to be taken up, but with Cancelo’s value at an all time low following his mixed Bundesliga spell, a successful loan move could help Manchester City recoup some of the money which they paid for him in the future.
Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola’s side are keen to add at least two new faces before the end of the transfer window, with a central midfielder and a right winger on their wishlist.
