Catalan giants Barcelona are set to make one final push to sign Manchester City full-back Joao Cancelo on a permanent deal this summer.
According to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, Barca want to use the funds created by the imminent sale of Ousmane Dembele to PSG to buy the Portuguese star with USMNT defender Sergino Dest the club’s only recognized right-back currently.
Barcelona are expected to give at least one more try to bring in João Cancelo by using part of Dembélé budget. 🔵🔴🇵🇹
This remains the plan revealed here on Sunday; otherwise, Barça will complete Iván Fresneda deal — already advanced with Valladolid ⤵️ https://t.co/trS1RXI8ZA
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 1, 2023
Joao Cancelo set for permanent Man City departure?
Cancelo left the Cityzens during the second half of last season on loan for Bayern Munich but the Bundesliga champions decided against making the deal permanent when offered.
At 29, Cancelo may feel he has one final long-term contract left in his career, and after being allowed to leave the Etihad Stadium once already, his part in Pep Guardiola’s plans seems uncertain at best. If the Catalans are unable to force through a deal for Cancelo, they will switch their attention to 18-year-old Real Valladolid right-back Ivan Fresneda.
Despite Pep Guardiola’s obvious influence on both clubs, City and Barcelona are not thought to have the best relationship at the moment with the Catalans still believed to owe the majority of the agreed transfer fee for Ferran Torres’ move in January 2022.
