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Barca ‘are reportedly eager’ to sign Manchester City’s Joao Cancelo on a permanent basis after the 2023-24 season concludes.
The right-back has spent this season with Xavi’s side after joining on loan from Pep Guardiola’s City on the final day of the summer transfer window.
Cancelo has started nine league games for Barcelona as they battle Real Madrid and surprise package Girona for the La Liga title.
During the November international break, the 29-year-old was also a key cog for his national team, playing 87 minutes in each of Portugal’s Euro 2024 qualifiers against Iceland and Liechtenstein.
According to Football Espana, Barcelona is planning to make a bid for Cancelo’s services on a permanent basis during the summer transfer window.
According to the report, Barcelona legend and head coach Xavi has been impressed with the Portuguese’s performances thus far and would like to include the full-back in his long-term plans.
The Catalans are said to be willing to pay an initial £22 million, with subsequent payments made to Man City over a three-year period.
Guardiola’s treble-winning performance Citizens are reportedly asking £44 million for a player who has helped the club win two Premier League titles and two EFL Cups since joining from Juventus in August 2019.
Cancelo spent the second half of the 2022-23 season on loan at German powerhouse Bayern Munich. It was widely reported that the Bavarians were interested in signing the right-back in the summer.
It is believed that Thomas Tuchel’s side had a £61.6m fee agreed with Manchester City for the former Valencia man, but the Bundesliga champions later decided to scrap a potential move for the player.
Barca is considering a permanent deal for Cancelo if the City declines the loan deal
According to a separate report from Spanish outlet SPORT, Barca would prefer another loan deal for Cancelo in the 2024-25 season, but Manchester City would only accept such an agreement if certain conditions were met.
Citiy is likely to demand a £30m obligation-to-buy clause in any temporary switch to Camp Nou for the defender next season.
Cancelo has appeared on 154 occasions for Guardiola’s side in a variety of positions across the backline since leaving Turin for Manchester over four years ago, scoring nine goals.
Barca and Cancelo will look to close the four-point gap to Girona when they travel to Rayo Vallecano in La Liga on Saturday afternoon.
