Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta
Arsenal have been told they still have a good chance of signing Joao Cancelo from Manchester City this summer – but Mikel Arteta must bide his time and show patience if he is to secure a deal.
The Portuguese full-back was surprisingly allowed to leave the Etihad in Januaryy. Indeed, he was shipped out on loan to Bayern Munich after falling out of favour under Pep Guardiola.
With the City boss utilising John Stones more suited to the roving-defender-moving-into-midfield role Guardiola was craving, it was Cancelo who found himself surplus to requirements. And with Nathan Ake favoured at left-back, the writing was on the wall for Cancelo.
As such, the 29-year-old was shipped out to the Bundesliga champions with a view to a permanent deal. However, while Cancelo featured in 21 games for Bayern, Thomas Tuchel allowed that option to lapse, with Cancelo heading back to City.
Now with the player surplus to requirements, City are actively seeking to move the 44-times capped Portugal player on.
And while several clubs are keen to acquire his services, City’s apparent £60m asking price looks problematic to his suitors.
To that end, Real Madrid and Barcelona have both cooled their interest in landing him.
One club who could potentially match that fee, however, are Arsenal.
Arteta’s side have spent heavily this summer. Indeed, Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber will soon follow Kai Havertz into the club. Those three deals alone will take Arsenal’s spending through the £200m barrier.
However, the Gunners are not yet done and reports claim they are also exploring a possible deal for Cancelo too.
Cancelo to Arsenal could happen later in transfer window
That said, the star is not seen as a priority addition right now. Indeed, the Gunners are well blessed for full-backs, though the situation could change were Kieran Tierney depart.
In addition, with suitors not exactly queuing up to snap up Cancelo, Arsenal could yet snare the star for a reduced fee at the back end of the window.
That’s the verdict of transfer journalist Dean Jones. And speaking to the Done Deal Show on YouTube, he reckons the deal could be one to watch later in the window.
“In terms of Cancelo I asked someone about this again the other day and it was put to me that if he is still there at the back end of this transfer window Arsenal might sign him.
“He’s not seen as an absolute priority. In fact it is seen as a luxury to get Cancelo in this transfer window. Arsenal feel like they’re well set up at the back,” Jones said.
“They feel this Timber deal is significant to how they’ll play next season. [As a result] they’re not worried about it [Cancelo] right now.”
Indeed, Arsenal’s priorities are likely to lie in adding another central midfielder next, especially if Thomas Partey moves on.
The Ghanaian has been linked with a lucrative move to Saudi amid claims Arsenal are willing to let him move on.
However, Manchester United have also been linked with too, amid claims Erik ten Hag wants a back-up option for Casemiro.
