Arsenal have targeted Joao Cancelo this summer: now an unnamed Champions League are looking to hijack his Barcelona move
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Arsenal could be about to hijack a move for Manchester City star Joao Cancelo – who looked bound for Barcelona.
The Gunners have shown interest in the Portuguese full-back for a while now, with Mikel Arteta flexing his connections to the Citizens to pursue moves for Cancelo and Aymeric Laporte. Last summer, Arsenal signed Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko from the Etihad outfit.
Cancelo fell out with manager Pep Guardiola last season, leaving Manchester City on loan for Bayern Munich. He was booed on his return to the club in the Champions League and did look set to join Barcelona on deadline day – but there may be a twist left in the tale.
Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta have a good working relationship (Image credit: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
Spanish outlet Cadena SERsays that Cancelo has received a "last-minute offer" from a Champions League club, which remains unnamed.
While it very likely that the offer is from Arsenal, however, it may not matter. Cancelo is said to have agreed terms with Barça ahead of a move and with City reluctant to let Laporte go to the Gunners, they certainly would not change their plans to sell Cancelo there.
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Arsenal could be in the market for a full-back today, with the defender Jurrien Timber ruled out for a number of months with an ACL injury. So far, there is no movement on such a deal.
The Gunners are actually more likely to let players leave on Deadline Day, with Rob Holding set to leave the club and further deplete the defensive resources ahead of the season.
Arsenal may look to replace Jurrien Timber today (Image credit: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Arsenal are also linked with Eric Garcia of Barcelona.
Mark White has been at on FourFourTwo since joining in January 2020, first as a staff writer before becoming content editor in 2023. An encyclopedia of football shirts and boots knowledge – both past and present – Mark has also represented FFT at both FA Cup and League Cup finals (though didn't receive a winners' medal on either occasion) and has written pieces for the mag ranging on subjects from Bobby Robson's season at Barcelona to Robinho's career. He has written cover features for the mag on Mikel Arteta and Martin Odegaard, and is assisted by his cat, Rosie, who has interned for the brand since lockdown.
